Author: KBFC-Media

In an exciting clash at the Kalinga Stadium in the temple city of Bhubaneswar, Kerala Blasters FC and Odisha FC played out a dramatic 2-2 draw. The match began with Kerala Blasters showing early attacking intent, as Danish had a quick opportunity right after kickoff.

The first real chance came from Noah Sadaoui, whose shot earned a corner, but it was cleared by Jaouh. Throughout the match, Noah and Rahul kept delivering crosses to Danish, who found himself in promising positions but couldn’t convert them into goals.

The breakthrough came in the 17th minute when Noah finished off a well-timed assist from Jesus Jimenez, putting Kerala Blasters up 1-0. Just four minutes later, Jimenez found the top corner with a clinical finish, extending the lead to 2-0 and giving the Blasters control in the first quarter of the game.

Odisha FC pulled one back in the 36th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error when Alexandre Coeff, attempting to clear the ball, inadvertently deflected it into his net. The equalizer followed soon after, with Diego Mauricio scoring just before halftime, levelling the score at 2-2.

The second half saw a more physical contest, with both teams creating chances. Jesus Jimenez remained a constant threat for Kerala but couldn’t find the net again. In the 68th minute, coach Mikael Stahre made tactical substitutions, bringing on Mohammed Aimen for Danish, and shortly after, Adrian Luna replaced Coeff. These changes added new dimensions to the attack, with Aimen linking up well with Noah and Luna adding fresh energy.

Despite several near misses, including efforts from Rahul and Noah, neither team could break the deadlock. Odisha’s defence held firm, making crucial saves to deny Kerala a late winner. In the end, both teams settled for a share of the points in an intense contest.

Looking ahead, Kerala Blasters will aim to regroup and prepare for their next fixture against Mohammedan SC on October 20 at Kishore Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata, scheduled for 7:30 PM IST.

Substitutions:

68’ Danish Farooq ➡ Mohammed Aimen

70’ Alexandre Coeff ➡ Adrian Luna

84’ Rahul KP ➡ Mohammed Azhar

84’ Sandeep Singh ➡ Hormipam Ruivah

84’ Jesus Jimenez ➡ Kwame Peprah

Goals:

17’ Noah Sadaoui

21’ Jesus Jimenez

Match Gallery:

Load More...

Kerala Blasters FC and North East United FC played out a thrilling 1-1 draw at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati. Both teams deployed balanced formations, ensuring a tactical battle right from the start.
Kerala Blasters began the match strongly, with Noah Sadaoui testing North East’s goalkeeper Gurmeet in the 3rd minute. Danish Farooq soon created another opportunity for Noah, but the Blasters couldn’t capitalize early. North East United responded with pressure of their own, earning consecutive corners but failing to convert. The first half remained even, with both sides unable to break the deadlock, leaving it 0-0 at halftime.
In the second half, Kerala Blasters made an early substitution, bringing on Kwame Peprah for Alexandre Coeff to add more attacking options. However, North East United took the lead in the 57th minute through a set-piece, with Ajarae capitalizing on a defensive lapse from the Blasters to score past Sachin Suresh.
Kerala Blasters responded quickly, with Noah Sadaoui equalizing in the 67th minute following clever play by Vibin. As the game intensified, both teams pushed for a winning goal. Drama unfolded in the 81st minute when North East’s Asheer Akhtar was shown a red card for a harsh sliding challenge on Noah, leaving North East United with 10 men. Kerala Blasters pressed forward to take advantage, but despite creating chances, they were unable to find a late winner.
Adrian Luna, making his first appearance in the Indian Super League 2024-25 season, brought fresh energy to the attack. He linked up well with Mohammed Aimen, who came close to scoring in the 90th minute, only to have his shot blocked. Kwame Peprah then unleashed a powerful strike in stoppage time, but Gurmeet’s save kept the score level. The match ended 1-1, with both sides taking a point from the hard-fought contest.
Kerala Blasters are set to face Odisha FC on 3rd October at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar. With 4 points already on the board, the Blasters will aim to strengthen their position with a vital away victory.

Substitutions:

• 46’: Alexandre Coeff ➡ Kwame Peprah
• 57’: Rahul KP ➡ Mohammed Aimen
• 79’: Jesus Jimenez ➡ Adrian Luna
• 79’: Sandeep Singh ➡ Hormipam Ruivah

Goals:

• 67’: Kerala Blasters FC: Noah Sadaoui

Match Gallery:

Load More...

Kerala Blasters secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against East Bengal FC in a thrilling encounter, showing grit and determination to earn all three points. The match started with both teams feeling each other out, but it was Kerala Blaster’s goalkeeper, Sachin Suresh, who truly shone in the first half. His incredible triple-save in the 18th minute to deny Nandakumar Sekar’s close-range effort kept the game level. Sachin stood tall throughout the match, repeatedly frustrating East Bengal’s attack, including Mahesh Singh and Nandhakumar Sekar.

Kerala had their moments as well, with Jesus Jimenez coming agonizingly close in the 8th minute when he rattled the woodwork after a neat exchange of passes with Noah Sadoui. Despite some promising play from Rahul KP and Vibin Mohanan, the deadlock remained unbroken going into halftime, as both teams struggled to convert their chances.

The second half began with East Bengal taking control, displaying more attacking intent. Rahul KP linked up well with Alexandre Coeff early on, but Coeff couldn’t capitalize on a promising chance in the 49th minute. In the 59th minute, East Bengal found the breakthrough when Vishnu Vinod, coming off the bench as a super sub, scored on his home soil. Dimitrios Diamantakos pounced on a loose ball outside the box and played a perfect assist to Vishnu, who slotted it into the net to give East Bengal a 1-0 lead.

However, Kerala Blasters quickly responded. Just four minutes later, Noah Sadoui equalized for KBFC in the 63rd minute. After a neat buildup, Sadoui found himself in space and finished confidently to make it 1-1. The match opened up after the equalizer, with both teams pushing hard for the winner, but neither side could find a decisive goal. Kerala’s substitutes, including Kwame Peprah, brought fresh energy to the game, testing East Bengal’s defense with their pressing and physicality, but the score remained level as the match continued to intensify.

In the 88th minute, Peprah’s persistence paid off when he broke free inside the box and put the ball into the back of the net, giving Kerala a 2-1 lead. Despite East Bengal’s best efforts, including several dangerous crosses from Naorem Mahesh Singh and Nandhakumar Sekar, Kerala’s defense held strong. Milos Drincic, who captained the side in the absence of Adrian Luna, alongside Aiban Dohling, made crucial clearances to deny East Bengal’s late attempts.

Goalkeeper Sachin Suresh continued his heroics in the dying moments of the game, making key saves to deny Saul Crespo. Kerala’s backline, supported by Pritam Kotal and Naocha Singh, managed to shut down East Bengal’s offense, maintaining their lead as the clock wound down. With six minutes of added time, Kerala Blasters held firm to see out the game and claim an impressive 2-1 victory.

The win sees Kerala Blasters build further momentum as they look ahead to their next challenge against NorthEast United. With confidence high, Kerala Blasters will be eager to continue their winning run and strengthen their position in the league.

Substituitions:

65’ Sandeep Singh ➡️ Mohammed Aimen
Danish Farooq ➡️ Aibanbha Kupar Dolhing

74’ – Jesus Jimenez ➡️ Kwame Peprah
Vibin Mohan➡️ Mohammed Azhar

89’- Alexander Coeff ➡️ Freddy Lallawmawma

Goals:
63’ Noah Sadoui
88’ Kwame Peprah

Match Gallery:

Load More...

Punjab FC 2-1 Kerala Blasters FC

In their opening match of the Indian Super League 2024-25 season, Kerala Blasters FC were denied victory by a dramatic Filip Mrzljak goal in the 95th minute, sealing a 2-1 win for Punjab FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi. In a thrilling encounter, the Blasters fought valiantly, equalizing in injury time through striker Jesús Jiménez, only to see their efforts undone in the dying moments.

First Half: A Tight Contest

The match began with Kerala Blasters paying a silent tribute to Wayanad. The starting XI featured French international Alexandre Coeff making his ISL debut in midfield alongside Freddy. Notably, captain Adrian Luna was absent, leaving defender Miloš Drinčić to marshal the backline. The first half was a cagey affair with limited chances for both sides, as the ball remained largely confined to the midfield.

Punjab FC thought they had broken the deadlock when Mushaga Bakenga put the ball in the net, but the goal was disallowed for offside, leaving the game scoreless at halftime.

Second Half: Injury Time Drama

Kerala Blasters made an immediate impact in the second half with the introduction of Vibin Mohanan and Spanish striker Jesús Jiménez. Their presence injected more pace into the attack, and Noah Sadaoui came close to opening the scoring with a powerful shot, only to be denied by Punjab goalkeeper Ravi Kumar.

Blasters’ head coach Mikael Stahre made five substitutions in the second half, searching for a breakthrough. However, against the run of play, a challenge from Muhammed Saheef on Leon Augustine in the 85th minute led to Punjab being awarded a penalty. Luka Majcen calmly converted, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.

With the home crowd urging them on, Kerala Blasters found an equalizer in the 92nd minute. A perfectly placed cross from Pritam Kotal found Jesús Jiménez, who scored with a precise header on his debut, leveling the match at 1-1 and sending the home fans into a frenzy.

Just when it seemed like the match would end in a draw, Punjab FC launched a last-minute attack. In the 95th minute, Filip Mrzljak struck a ball delivered from a tight angle into the net, sealing a dramatic victory for Punjab FC.

Kerala Blasters will now look to regroup as they prepare for their next fixture against East Bengal FC on 22nd September, aiming to bounce back and secure their first win of the ISL season.

Substitutions:

46’ – Kwame Peprah ➡ Jesús Jiménez

46’ – Mohammed Aimen ➡ Vibin Mohanan

70’ – Freddy Lallawmawma ➡ Mohammed Azhar

75’ – Sandeep Singh ➡ Aibanbha Dolhing

87’ -Muhammed Saheef ➡ Sukham Yoihenba Meitei

Goal:
92’ – Jesús Jiménez

Match Gallery:

Load More...