Kerala Blasters leave it late against Mohammedan in Kolkata drama to secure all three points on the road.
In a thrilling game at Kolkata’s Kishore Bharati Krirangan Stadium, KBFC overturned a one-goal deficit to defeat Mohammedan SC 2-1. Despite an early setback, the Blasters’s relentless pressure and tactical adjustments paid off, securing three crucial points.
First Half – MSC Take the Lead
The Blasters started aggressively, with Noah Sadaoui attempting an early shot in the second minute, narrowly missing the target. Kerala Blasters, seeking to find their rhythm, relied on Adrian Luna’s creativity. However, Mohammedan maintained pressure, earning the first corner in the 4th minute.
11 minutes into the game, Adrian Luna and Mohammedan SC’s Zuidika collided, injuring both players. Zuidika was shown a yellow card for the challenge, briefly halting the game. Despite the setback, Luna played a key role in KBFC’s eventual comeback.
After a back-and-forth opening, the home side found the breakthrough in the 27th minute. A penalty was awarded after Blasters goalkeeper Som Kumar took Franca down inside the box. Mohammedan’s Kasimov converted the penalty, putting them 1-0 ahead. Kerala Blasters nearly responded in the 34th minute, with Jiménez rattling the woodwork. Mohammedan held on to their 1-0 lead at halftime despite Kerala’s growing dominance.
Second Half – Kerala Blasters Fight Back
Emerging from the break with renewed intensity, the Blasters ramped up their attacking play. In the 60th minute, coach Mikael Stahre made a game-changing substitution, bringing on Kwame Peprah for Alexandre Coeff and opting for an all-Indian defence. Just six minutes later, Noah Sadaoui’s perfect cross found Peprah, who equalized with a well-placed finish, making it 1-1.
The momentum continued to shift in Blaster’s favour. In the 74th minute, Naocha Singh delivered a pinpoint cross from the left flank, and Jiménez rose to head it home, giving the Blasters a 2-1 lead.
Late Drama and Crowd Trouble
The final stages saw Mohammedan SC pushing for an equaliser. The game was paused in the 83rd minute due to crowd trouble. Play resumed after a brief halt. In the 98th minute, MSC had a chance to level the score, but Som Kumar produced a match-saving stop to deny the hosts.
Despite Mohammedan SC’s late pressure, Kerala Blasters held on for a hard-fought 2-1 victory.
Match Details:
Kerala Blasters Starting XI
Som Kumar (GK), Adrian Luna (C), Pritam Kotal, Alexandre Coeff, Mohammed Azhar, Rahul KP, Noah Sadaoui, Vibin Mohanan, Jesus Jimenez, Huidrom Naocha Singh, Sandeep Singh
Full-time: Mohammedan SC 1-2 Kerala Blasters FC
Goals:
• 66′ Kwame Peprah
• 74′ Jesús Jiménez
Substitutions:
• 46’ Danish Farooq ➡ Mohammed Azhar
• 64’ Hormipam Ruivah ➡Rahul KP
• 64’ Kwame Peprah ➡ Alexandre Coeff
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