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Kerala Blasters End Away Curse

Jesus Jimenez Nunez of Kerala Blasters FC celebrates agoal during match 29 between Mohammedan SC and Kerala Blasters FC of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season held at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, on 20th October 2024. Abhijit Addya/Focus Sports/ FSDL

Kwame Peprah and Jesus Jimenez struck late to give Kerala Blasters a 2-1 win over Mohammedan SC, ending a 27-game away drought after conceding first in the ISL…reports Asian Lite News

Kwame Peprah and Jesus Jimenez netted late in the second half as Kerala Blasters FC secured a thrilling 2-1 win over Mohammedan SC at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan on Sunday. This victory marked the first time in 27 games that they won an away match after conceding first in the Indian Super League (ISL).

Two second-half strikes from Kwame Peprah and Jesus Jimenez saw Mikael Stahre’s men secure their third consecutive victory in Kolkata, a feat they had never achieved in the competition. Mirjalol Kasimov handed Mohammedan SC the lead, but the visitors showed resilience in the second half to produce a come-from-behind victory in the 2024-25 edition of the competition.

The visitors were off the blocks quickly, as Noah Sadaoui found the right tune from the start. The Moroccan posed all sorts of trouble for the Mohammedan SC backline, especially after combining with Adrian Luna, who was pulling the strings from midfield. However, the hosts weathered the early storm brilliantly and gradually imposed themselves on the match’s tempo.

In the 20th minute, Mohammedan’s pillar in defence, Joseph Adjei had to be substituted after suffering an injury. Andrey Chernyshov turned to French defender Florent Ogier to replace the Ghanaian.

The next 10 minutes saw the hosts dominate possession and also create a few chances. Their persistent nature in attack was rewarded when Kerala Blasters FC’s debutant custodian, Som Kumar brought down Franca in the penalty area in the 27th minute, handing a penalty to Mohammedan SC. Mirajlol Kasimov stepped up and converted from the spot to hand a crucial lead to the hosts.

Mikael Stahre’s men didn’t bog down after conceding the goal, they were more spurred on to equalize. In the 34th minute, they almost managed to do so as Jesus Jimenez wriggled his way past multiple Mohammedan SC defenders before pulling the trigger. But the Spaniard’s long-range effort was denied by the crossbar.

The second period saw both teams trying to take control of the possession in midfield. But the game swayed in the favour of the Blasters by Kwame Peprah’s introduction in the 64th minute. Within three minutes, the forward came up with the equalizer, latching onto a cross from Noah. Peprah was quick to react to the cross, leaving his marker, Zodingliana Ralte in complete awe before tucking it past Padam Chettri in goal.

Riding on the positive momentum of scoring an equaliser, the Blasters enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and also created a flurry of chances. They eventually secured the lead in the 75th minute when Naocha Singh found Jimenez in the penalty area with a beautifully weighted cross from the left flank. The Spaniard rose the highest, beating Ogier in the air and eventually heading it past Chettri.

Mohammedan SC’s best chance of coming back into the game fell to Lalremsanga Fanai in the stoppage time when he combined with Cesar Manzoki. The former was through on goal but his eventual effort was brilliantly kept out by Som Kumar, who also became the fourth youngest goalkeeper to start a game in ISL. His last-ditch save was enough to see the Kerala Blasters FC home as they clinched their second win of the season.

Mohammedan SC will host Hyderabad FC at home on October 26 while Kerala Blasters FC will be in action on October 25 against rivals Bengaluru FC in Kochi.

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‘We Miss Luna’

Despite the challenges, the Blasters rallied in the second half, with Noah Sadaoui and Kwame Peprah scoring to clinch a hard-fought win…reports Asian Lite News

After a thrilling 2-1 victory against East Bengal FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 clash, Kerala Blasters head coach Mikael Stahre provided an honest assessment of his team’s performance, particularly their offensive struggles.

Stahre pointed to the absence of star player Luna as a major factor. “To be honest, we’re really missing Luna,” Stahre admitted. “He’s the one who can pass, keep possession, score, and shoot—he’s the best in the league, and everyone knows it. We’ve got other talented players, but Luna’s presence adds something unique, and our attack has clearly felt his absence.”

Despite the challenges, the Blasters mounted a second-half comeback, with goals from Noah Sadaoui and Kwame Peprah securing a hard-fought win in front of a passionate home crowd at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi.

Stahre acknowledged Danish’s solid contribution but emphasized the difference between his style and Luna’s. “Danish played a good game. He’s more of a fighter, pressing and running behind the defense. He’s not the kind of attacking midfielder who provides those crucial passes, but his energy created a lot of opportunities for us.”

Tactical adjustments were key to Kerala Blasters’ victory. Stahre moved Noah into a central role and shifted Iman to the left, which paid off in the second half. “Noah did well in that position, and Iman was much better in the last 30 minutes compared to last week,” Stahre noted.

The opening half saw chances for both teams, with Jesus Jimenez and Dimitrios Diamantakos getting close for East Bengal and Kerala Blasters. It was Diamantakos who helped his team take the lead in the 59th minute. East Bengal capitalised on a defensive error by Sandeep Singh, leading to Vishnu Puthiya’s goal.

However, Kerala Blasters responded swiftly. Noah Sadaoui equalized just four minutes later with sharp footwork, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. The Blasters continued to push forward, and in the 88th minute, Kwame Peprah capitalized on a defensive lapse to score the winning goal, making it the 12th goal after the 85th minute in ISL 2024-25.

Stahre praised his team’s resilience but acknowledged the impact of injuries and fatigue. “After 74 minutes, we were scrambling. The intensity of the game, combined with players recovering from injuries, made it tough.

Despite the challenges, Stahre remains optimistic, emphasizing the importance of Luna’s return. “We’re a strong team, but having Luna back will make a huge difference going forward.”

This late-game victory underscored the excitement of ISL 2024-25, where results are coming down to the wire, thrilling fans in the stadium and at home.

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‘GOAL FOR WAYANAD’: Kerala Blasters Boost Relief Efforts

Kerala Blasters FC launches ‘Goal for Wayanad’ Campaign and additionally donates Rs. 25 lakhs to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) …reports Asian Lite News

In a gesture of support for families affected by the devastating natural disaster in Wayanad, Kerala Blasters FC has launched the ‘Goal for Wayanad’ campaign and additionally donated Rs. 25 lakhs to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF).

Through the ‘Goal for Wayanad’ campaign, the Club plans to further contribute Rs 1 lakh for every goal scored in the upcoming Indian Super League Season 11 to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF), as part of the club’s continued efforts to contribute towards disaster relief and rehabilitation. This campaign and donation are in addition to the Rs. 1.25 Crore already contributed by the co-owners of Kerala Blasters FC.

Nimmagadda Prasad, Chairman, KBFC, along with Nikhil B. Nimmagadda, Director, KBFC, and Shushen Vashishth, Chief Operating Officer, KBFC, met with the Hon. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and handed over a cheque of Rs 25 lakhs. They also presented the Chief Minister with a KBFC jersey and extended an invitation for the upcoming season.

“We at Kerala Blasters FC have always prioritised the well-being of our community and remain dedicated to supporting the state during challenging times. These initiatives aim to motivate the football community to unite for a meaningful cause,” said Nikhil B. Nimmagadda.

Previously, during the Covid-19 period, the Club donated 500,000 Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate 200mg tablets to support frontline workers and provided 10,000 N95 masks to the Government of Kerala.  The Club also set up ‘Relief Material Collection Centres’ at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kaloor, Panampilly Nagar, and the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium to aid flood relief efforts in 2018, besides significant contributions to the CMDRF.

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Mohun Bagan Faces In-Form Kerala Blasters

The Mariners find themselves in a precarious position after nine games, having suffered consecutive defeats against their nearest competitors in the last couple of matches….reports Asian Lite News

Mohun Bagan Super Giant will be gearing up for a crucial encounter at home as they take on the in-form Kerala Blasters FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Wednesday.

The Mariners find themselves in a precarious position after nine games, having suffered consecutive defeats against their nearest competitors in the last couple of matches.

The streak began with a gruelling 2-1 defeat at the home of Mumbai City FC, before FC Goa had a strong outing against them, wrapping up a 4-1 victory in their own backyard. Juan Ferrando will need to go back to the drawing board to do a lot of searching as a spate of injuries and the absence of key players give him a truncated squad to work with.

The club made a remarkable investment to strengthen the squad with the acquisition of multiple top-tier international and domestic players to further their ambitions at both the country as well as the continental level.

The latter came crashing down with their group-stage exit from the AFC Cup, but Ferrando has to salvage pride by competing for the topmost honours in all competitions at home. On the other hand, Kerala Blasters FC is a unit that seems eager to bring an end to their wait for the silverware this season.

The Ivan Vukomanovic-coached side has brushed aside concerns over the injury of skipper Adrian Luna with other senior and also inexperienced stars assuming responsibility and delivering the goods consistently against other teams. They swept aside Mumbai City FC by a 2-0 margin in the previous match, but can they replicate those heroics on the road too?

At stake for Mohun Bagan Super Giant is the chance to break this unwanted losing streak and get on top of the team that is placed just a place above them in the points table at the moment.

The Mariners could not have come up against a better opposition to do so though, as their unbeaten record against Kerala Blasters FC is something that Ferrando would want to hold dear to after this game.

Kerala Blasters FC have lost five times and drawn once in their six matches against the Mariners in the ISL. The Kochi-based club are amongst the three teams including Odisha FC and East Bengal FC that are yet to defeat the Mariners in the ISL.

Despite the spate of injuries in this campaign, Mohun Bagan have scored 19 goals so far among the most scored among all teams in the competition.

Kerala Blasters FC are on a roll after their clinical 2-0 win against Mumbai City FC even with the absence of captain Adrian Luna. They showed no signs of rustiness as the forwards stepped up and unleashed their impeccable potential with Dimitrios Diamantakos and Kwame Peprah scoring and setting a goal each, in addition to a brilliant defensive performance. The clean sheets would come as a relief for Vukomanovic, as the team has not conceded a goal in their previous two matches and the last time they went on a longer stretch was of three games in December 2014.

Mohun Bagan aren’t the ideal opposition to seal that feat though, as the home team has scored a goal in each of their last 10 matches in the top tier. The depth of Ferrando’s squad allows him to introduce quality substitutes and that has resulted in them scoring 10 goals in the second half of matches this season.

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Kerala Sport Sports

Blasters FC Clinch Top ISL Spot with 1-0 Victory Over Hyderabad

The resounding support that Kerala Blasters receive in Kochi was visible and how, when Drinčić tapped in an assist by Adrian Luna four minutes before the halftime break…reports Asian Lite News

Kerala Blasters FC progressed to the top of the points table with a narrow 1-0 victory against Hyderabad FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here to round off the Saturday double header of Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24.

Kerala Blasters FC head coach Ivan Vukomanovic recently stated that the Tuskers have an obligation towards their home fans to give their hundred per cent and more every time they step onto the field in Kochi. It’s safe to say that the players lived up to those expectations in this faceoff against Hyderabad FC, with a goal in the 41st minute by Milos Drincic helping them bag all points possible from their first fixture after the international break.

The resounding support that Kerala Blasters receive in Kochi was visible and how, when Drinčić tapped in an assist by Adrian Luna four minutes before the halftime break. The home side had won a corner, and they overloaded players upfront to find a breakthrough past the Hyderabad FC backline. Luna received a through ball inside the 18-yard box and he was quick to spot an onrushing Drincic. The 24-year-old Montenegrin defender put the ball into the back of the net and helped Kerala Blasters head into the halftime high on confidence.

Hyderabad FC are dealing with challenges in their frontline this season, having scored only four times in seven matches this season now. Their major concerns come across in finishing off moves, as they went toe to toe in giving Kerala Blasters a run for their money even after trailing in the proceedings.

Jonathan Moya had a fantastic opportunity to get them ahead in the game even before Drincic’s strike. At the tip of the attacking unit, Moya was responsible for efficiently optimising the opportunities that Hyderabad created. However, his headed effort failed to even test Sachin Suresh.

Unfortunately for them, no concrete chances came their way afterwards, with Kerala Blasters nearing doubling the lead. Drincic had an opening to bag a brace after his strike, but that effort did not materialise. However, Vukomanovic will be pleased with the effort that Luna put in as well. Arguably the most impactful individual in the league thus far, the Uruguayan again notched a decisive assist as his team continues to rally behind the relentless efforts he keeps putting in one game after another.

Kerala Blasters will next host Chennaiyin FC on November 29 whereas Hyderabad FC will be squaring off against the Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar for their upcoming match on December 2.

Adrian Luna Clinches ISL Player of the Month for October

Kerala Blasters FC captain Adrian Luna has won the Indian Super League (ISL) Player of the Month award for October 2023, a prize which is given to the best player in the ISL every month.

The voting criteria involve fans’ votes, which contribute to 50 per cent of the total vote share, while the remaining 50 per cent comes from expert votes. Luna secured the award based on fans’ votes cast between 3 PM IST on November 22 and 3 PM IST on November 24. He secured all 10 votes from the experts while acquiring 80 per cent fan votes, taking his total percentage to 90 per dent, reports ISL.

The 31-year-old midfielder triumphed over stiff competition from teammate Sachin Suresh, Jay Gupta of FC Goa, and Rehenesh TP of Jamshedpur FC.

Kerala Blasters FC engaged in four matches in October, securing victories in two, drawing one, and experiencing a loss in the other. Luna’s exceptional performance throughout the month, which encompassed two goals and one assist, earned him well-deserved recognition.

The Uruguayan has been a key figure for the Blasters so far this season, playing a crucial role in orchestrating attacks. His versatility is evident as he created 12 chances and demonstrated physical prowess, winning 32 possessions and 23 duels.

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Kerala Blasters Secure 2-1 Victory Over East Bengal in Thrilling ISL Clash

Both teams will now play in the league on a double header on November 25. East Bengal FC will take on Chennaiyin FC in the home turf of the latter, whereas the Kerala Blasters FC will host Hyderabad FC…reports Asian Lite News

Kerala Blasters FC put on a strong display that led to a 2-1 victory against East Bengal FC at the Salt Lake Stadium here in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 on Saturday. Moreover, as has been the case right throughout the season, it was their charismatic captain Adrian Luna who steered the Blasters to a crucial victory on the road before the team heads into the international break.

The Uruguayan international was constantly teasing the East Bengal backline, finding out opportunities that could help him create a chance out of nowhere. One such chance emerged in the 32nd minute, as Luna spotted a disoriented opposition defence and carved it open with a crafty pass for fellow teammate Daisuke Sakai.

The 26-year-old immediately rushed into the box, tricked Mohamad Rakip with quick footwork and shot the ball past Prabhsukhan Singh Gill to hand his side the lead. Sakai thus became only the fourth Japanese player to score a goal in ISL history, after Cy Goddard, Katsumi Yusa, and Rei Tachikawa.

If Luna has been Kerala’s star in attack, young goalkeeper Sachin Suresh has come up as a surprise package at the back. His distribution has been commendable, recording a 57% passing success rate in six appearances so far. However, it his shot-stopping that has made heads turn, as he saved a penalty in his second successive game on Saturday. Brazilian striker Cleiton Silva had a brilliant opportunity to draw scores level in the 85th minute, but Sachin dived to his right and saved the shot amidst joyous celebration from his teammates, becoming the first goalkeeper in ISL history to save penalties in consecutive matches.

East Bengal were shaken for a bit after that event, and the Blasters immediately capitalised as Sandeep Singh’s delivery to Dimitrios Diamantakos met little resistance with the effort eventually being converted into a goal in the 88th minute. The Greek striker was shown his second yellow card soon afterwards though, thus getting sent off in the 89th minute. That one-man advantage led to the home side earning a spot-kick in the ninth minute of added time, and Silva did convert the penalty this time around. Only, there weren’t enough minutes left for them to salvage an equaliser eventually.

Sachin Suresh (Kerala Blasters FC), the 22-year-old became the eighth youngest goalkeeper in ISL history to save a spot-kick, and his ability to elevate his game at crucial junctures has helped the Blasters secure important points in two straight games now. There is a lot more impressive performances to come from this talented custodian in the coming matches of this campaign.

Both teams will now play in the league on a double header on November 25. East Bengal FC will take on Chennaiyin FC in the home turf of the latter, whereas the Kerala Blasters FC will host Hyderabad FC.

Brief Scores; Kerala Blasters FC 2 (Daisuke Sakai 32’, Dimitrios Diamantakos 88’) – 1 (Cleiton Silva 99’) East Bengal FC

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Mumbai City FC Begins ISL Season with 2-1 Win Over Kerala Blasters

Diaz found the back of the net in the added time of the first half as skipper Rahul Bheke capitalised on space on the right flank to send an accurate cross inside the box…reports Asian Lite News

Mumbai City FC notched a narrow 2-1 victory over Kerala Blasters FC in their inaugural home fixture of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 season at the Mumbai Football Arena on Sunday. Jorge Pereyra Diaz and Lalengmawia Ralte scored in either half for the Islanders, with Kerala Blasters FC’s central midfielder Danish Farooq slipping in with a strike between those two goals.

Diaz found the back of the net in the added time of the first half as skipper Rahul Bheke capitalised on space on the right flank to send an accurate cross inside the box. The Argentine striker somehow managed to get his feet to the ball and slotted it past the Blasters’ goalkeeper Sachin Suresh to help the Islanders enter the with a one-goal advantage.
Kerala nearly equalised courtesy of Dimitrios Diamantakos a few minutes into the second half, as they regrouped and began searching for their equaliser with greater energy.

Farooq rushed ahead into the 18-yard box to meet a cross by Sandeep Singh, who was introduced as a substitute to help the Blasters stretch the game and attack more from the wider end of the pitch.
However, Mumbai realised that they were arguably getting outnumbered in the centre of the park. Apuia began donning a more advanced role and formed a lethal attacking triangle with Greg Stewart and Diaz.
As the international duo scraped past their markers, the ball hopped over Kerala’s backline. Apuia showed impressive awareness to get behind the defensive unit and nod the ball past Suresh to bag the winner for the Islanders.

Kerala’s quest for a late goal didn’t materialise until the end, with their defender Milos Drincic and Mumbai’s midfielder Yoell van Nieff being sent off just before the full-time whistle. The Islanders will host Hyderabad FC on October 28 for their upcoming fixture in the league. On the other hand, Kerala Blasters will resume proceedings post the international break by locking horns against NorthEast United FC on October 21. (ANI)

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Bengaluru FC surge to 5th place with 1-0 win over Kerala Blasters

ISL 2022-23: Bengaluru FC surge to fifth place with 1-0 win over Kerala Blasters FC

Roy Krishna netted his fifth goal of the season as the Blues jumped from seventh to fifth on the table, and a point clear of FC Goa and Odisha FC….reports Asian Lite News

Bengaluru FC extended their winning streak to six games in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2022-23 after a 1-0 victory over arch-rivals Kerala Blasters at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, here on Saturday.

Roy Krishna netted his fifth goal of the season as the Blues jumped from seventh to fifth on the table, and a point clear of FC Goa and Odisha FC.

An electric atmosphere engulfed the venue with several away fans in attendance fueling a high-octane encounter between two strong sides. Opportunities came at both ends in the initial stages of the first half. Dimitrios Diamantakos failed to hit the target from a promising Sahal Samad cross at one end, while Sandesh Jhinghan rattled the crossbar from a Javi Hernandez free-kick at the other.

The Blasters kept more of the ball, but the Blues fired more shots at goal and eventually drew first blood just after the half-hour mark. Hernandez was the provider as he slid a clever ball through to Krishna down the right flank. Under pressure from Ruivah Hormipam, the Fijian outmuscled the defender and made his way into the box before slotting it past Prabhsukhan Gill at the near-post from a tight angle.

Five minutes from the break, Hernandez had an opportunity to get his name on the scoresheet when he dodged the offside trap and brought a long ball down deftly right in front of goal. However, Gill pounced on the ball before the Spaniard could adjust his footing and get a shot away.

Kerala Blasters started the second half on the front foot. Adrian Luna’s cross from the right flank was just behind Diamantakos and was cleared to safety. Cheeky flicks were on display from Luna as the Blasters pushed forward repeatedly, getting thwarted by the staunch Bengaluru FC defence on almost every occasion. Samad attempted to find the far post on a couple of occasions, but both his efforts went wide.

Around the hour-mark, Bengaluru FC applied pressure on the Blasters. Roshan Naorem cut in from the left flank and tried to catch Gill on the wrong foot with a shot at the near post. However, the Blasters’ shot-stopper was quick to palm it out for a corner.

The Blasters huffed and puffed in the final few minutes of the game but could not do anything to correct their record at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in the ISL.

Having set up their longest winning streak in ISL history, Bengaluru FC will play the newly crowned league winners Mumbai City FC next on February 15 to try and solidify their playoff chances.

Meanwhile, Kerala Blasters are yet to confirm their playoff qualification this season and will have a chance to do that in their next game against ATK Mohun Bagan on February 18.

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Kerala Sport Sports

Kerala Blasters FC sign midfielder Farooq from Bengaluru FC

ISL: Kerala Blasters FC sign midfielder Farooq from Bengaluru FC

The 26-year-old will join the club this winter transfer window after penning a multi-year deal that keeps him at the club until 2026…reports Asian Lite News

Indian Super League (ISL) side Kerala Blasters FC on Tuesday confirmed the signing of midfielder Danish Farooq from Bengaluru FC for an undisclosed fee.

The 26-year-old will join the club this winter transfer window after penning a multi-year deal that keeps him at the club until 2026.

“Danish was one of the key targets from last season when we saw him in the context of ISL. He has that Playing style, passion, and quality that Kerala Blasters need. I’m happy that we were able to finalize this transfer and reinforce our team at a crucial moment this season. We signed a 3.5-year contract and this is an important move for team consistency in upcoming seasons,” said Karolis Skinkys, the sporting director of Kerala Blasters FC.

Danish started his youth career with J&K Bank Football Academy, representing them across all age groups. His exemplary performances earned him a move to Lonestar Kashmir with whom he made 18 appearances before joining Real Kashmir FC in 2016. He became the top scorer and top assist provider in the I-League Second Division, helping the Snow Leopards qualify for the I-league in the 2017/18 season.

After spending 5 years with Real Kashmir, Danish was signed by Bengaluru FC for a two-year deal. He has since made 27 appearances and scored 4 goals in the ISL. His strong physique, scoring capacity, and dribbling skills earned him the name Kashmiri Ronaldo.

“I am really excited to join Kerala Blasters. The atmosphere at Kochi is absolutely electric, I can’t wait to wear the famous yellow jersey and give my best for the team,” said Danish after signing with his new club.

Danish’s impressive performance in the ISL was rewarded with a national team call up for the two friendly matches against Bahrain and Belarus.

With the Blasters firmly in the mix for a second consecutive playoff finish, the addition of Danish will further strengthen the team as we head to the closing stages of the season. Danish has already linked up with his new teammates in Kochi and will be available for selection for the game against East Bengal on February 3.

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Chennaiyin FC, Kerala Blasters share spoils in tightly-contested draw

ISL2022-23: Chennaiyin FC, Kerala Blasters share spoils in tightly contested draw (Photo credit: ISL)

This time a dipping and swerving effort came straight at the keeper from the central part of the pitch before it was palmed over the bar again in the 21st minute…reports Asian Lite News

The five-match winning streak of Kerala Blasters FC came to an end on Monday after a tightly-contested 1-1 draw against Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, here on Monday.

Sahal Abdul Samad had put the Blasters in front in the first half before Vincy Barreto returned to score against his former club with an equaliser in the second.

Despite playing a part in five of the seven goals against NorthEast United FC last week, Abdenasser El Khayati was benched as Sourav Das came into the starting XI. The vacant foreigner spot was taken by Vafa Hakhamaneshi as Gurmukh Singh dropped to the bench. The other two changes saw Ajith Kumar and Barretto coming in to replace Mohammad Rafique and Rahim Ali.

Inside a minute, Adrian Luna tried to lift a free kick over the keeper from the left flank, but it was palmed over the bar by Debjit Majumder. Luna replicated the shot he attempted in the first minute from a long-range free kick. This time a dipping and swerving effort came straight at the keeper from the central part of the pitch before it was palmed over the bar again in the 21st minute.

The Blasters went ahead Midway through the first half when Kaliuzhnyi spotted Samad’s run and played a sublime through ball into the path of the winger. Chennaiyin goalkeeper Majumder came off his line to close the angle for Samad, but the 25-year-old cleverly dinked it over the charging keeper to score his third goal of the season.

In the 27th minute, Chennaiyin’s Vanspaul curled a promising cross into the box from the left flank and Duker was set to score before Nishu Kumar’s crucial intercepting header put the ball out for a corner.

Three minutes into the second half, Chennaiyin’s half-time substitute Ali was picked out in the box by an inch-perfect ball from Vanspaul. The striker’s first-time volley was parried straight into the path of Baretto by Prabhsukhan Gill. From close range, the midfielder smashed it home against his former club.

In the 81st minute, substitute El Khayati shrugged off his marker in midfield and slid a ball through to Sliskovic down the right flank. As Anirudh Thapa darted inside the box, Sliskovic scuffed his cross, and the ball went out for a goal kick. That signalled the end of any major attacking moves from either team in the final few minutes of the game.

The solitary point takes Kerala Blasters from sixth to fourth, ahead of Odisha FC on goal difference, and just a point off ATK Mohun Bagan.

The Blasters will return home to host Odisha FC on December 26. Chennaiyin FC remain in seventh, now four points off the final playoff spot. The Marina Machans will travel to the west coast to face Mumbai City FC on December 24.

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