Kerala Blasters top Group C after hard-fought draw with Punjab FC

In an intense Group C clash at the 133rd edition of The Durand Cup, Kerala Blasters and Punjab FC played out an hard-fought 1-1 draw at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan The draw saw both teams move to four points from two matches, with Kerala Blasters FC topping the group due to their earlier victory over Mumbai City FC

The first half was a tightly contested affair with both sides creating chances and fighting for possession. In first-half injury time, Luka Majcen broke the deadlock after he made a perfectly timed run to beat the offside trap and latch onto a long pass from Nikhil Prabhu. The Slovenian striker controlled the ball expertly and slotted it past Kerala Blasters’ goalkeeper Som Kumar, giving Punjab FC a crucial lead.

Kerala Blasters made strategic changes at the start of the second half as Head Coach Mikael Stahre introduced Pritam Kotal and Mohammed Aimen, injecting fresh energy into the team. The changes paid off quickly. In the 56th minute, Adrian Luna found Peprah on the left wing and Peprah’s precise cross reached an unmarked Mohammed Aimen at the far post, who calmly slotted in the equalizer.

The remainder of the match was marked by end-to-end action, with both teams pushing for a winner. Punjab FC came close but Keeper Som Kumar made vital saves to deny Luka Majcen and Filip Mrzljak. Kerala Blasters in return nearly clinched victory in the dying moments through consistent attacks leaving fans on the edge of their seats.

As the Durand Cup progresses, Kerala Blasters will aim to build on their strong performances and maintain their top spot in the group!

Goal :

Mohammed Aimen: 57′

Substitutions :

46′ : Hormipam ➡ Pritam Kotal

46′ : Yoihenba ➡ Mohammed Aimen

75′ : Aiban Dohling ➡ Naocha Singh