Author: KBFC-Media

After leading the score board for first 45 minutes of the game, ‘MEN IN YELLOW’ unfortunate not to secure a point again. When both teams were not ready to settle for anything less than 3 points, it was a match of two teams playing with calculated attacks. When Odisha FC opted for 4-3-3 formation, Coach Ivan made a slight change by moving Ivan Kalyuzhnyi behind the target man Dimitrios Diamantakos which made the formation change to 4-4-1-1.

Contrary to the full-on attaching football which Kerala Blasters is known for, Blasters played with measured moves. On the other hand, Odisha FC too played tactically by killing each move from Kerala Blasters in the midfield itself before it could progress to the attacking third. Though Jerry Mawihmingthanga found the back of the net on the 7th minute, rule book stood against him. Goal was not allowed as contact was made when the ball was under the control of Blasters custodian Prabhsukhan Singh Gill. Ivan Kalyuzhnyi tested Amrinder Singh on the 10th minute of the game for the Blasters. Whereas, Thoiba Singh Moirangthem did the same against the visitors on the 24th minute.

With attacks swinging in each direction Kerala Blasters opened the score card with a brilliant tactical goal on the 35th minute. When Adrián Luna walked towards the corner flag, the only player who was walking back from the Odisha penalty box was Harmanjot Singh Khabra. With Marko Lešković inside the box anticipating a corner, this looked like the defender was going back to his position to safeguard the defence line to tackle any counter attacks. Luna opted for a short pass to Puitea and brought the ball to open play. When players were moving back from penalty box, the man with jersey number 10 for Kerala Blasters brilliantly moved into the penalty box and remained unmarked by any Odisha players. A pinpoint cross from Luna and a header by Khabra looked like a move made to perfection from the practice ground. It could be a coincidence that Harmanjot Singh Khabra registered his name on score card against the same opponents last season too.

Blasters custodian was quick to clear a dangerous shot from Diego Maurício on the 47th minute. However, the man in jersey number 17 for Odisha FC turned the score board to ‘Square One’ for the host on the 54th minute. Jerry Mawihmingthanga was quick enough to get his boots on to a rebound inside the Kerala Blasters penalty box. After finding the equalizer, Odisha FC started testing the Blasters defence line consistently. Rahul KP replaced Sahal Abdul Samad on 60th minute for Blasters. Blasters also made a double substitution on the 64th minute when Víctor Mongil replaced Ivan Kalyuzhnyi and Nihal Sudeesh came in for Hormipam Ruivah. The very next minute Odisha also introduced fresh legs with a triple substitution. Nanda Kumar replaced by Isak Vanlalruatfela, Pedro Martin replacing Diego Maurício and Raynier Fernandes replacing Issac Vanmalsawma.

Odisha custodian was spot on in collecting a header from Dimitrios Diamantakos on a cross from Luna on the 67th minute. Very next minute Jerry tested Prabhsukhan Singh Gill for the hosts. Amrinder Singh managed to get his finger on the ball to clear an attempt from Jeakson Singh Thounaojam for Blasters on the 77th minute. Odisa replaced Thoiba Singh Moirangthem with Paul Ramfangzauva on the 80th min. A header attempt from Raynier Fernandes on the 85th minute for Odisha Fc went away from the target. But Odisha FC managed to take the lead the very next minute. A long ball clearance from Amrinder Singh on the 86th minute was guided to the net by Pedro Martin. Blasters replaced Harmanjot Singh Khabra with Nishu Kumar and Puitea with Saurav Mandal on the 87th minute. Odisha also went for their final substitution with Jerry replaced by Denechandra Meitei.

Two minutes into the extra time, an attempt from Dimitrios Diamantakos to get a pass to the penalty box was blocked by Amrinder Singh. Score board remained in favour of Odisha FC when the final whistle went out.

After scoring first goal and taking the lead within 6 minutes to the game, Kerala Blasters were unfortunate to go down for a 2-5 score line against ATK Mohun Bagan FC on Sunday night. ATK Mohun Bagan FC Coach Juan Ferrando opted for a 3-4-3 against the 4-4-2 formation from Blasters tactician Ivan Vukomanović. The men in yellow opted to start with the star performer from last match, Ivan Kalyuzhnyi with Apostolos Giannou on the bench.

With the loyal fans painting Kochi in yellow again, Kerala blasters stormed the ATK Mohun Bagan FC goal line from the very first second of the game. And this resulted in a goal with just 6 minutes on clock. After successfully winning the ball from Ashique Kuruniyan, Dimitrios Diamantakos guided it to Ivan Kalyuzhnyi who had a one two pass with Şahal Abdul Samad inside the penalty box and fount bottom of the net. With a one goal lead on the score board, Blasters kept testing ATK Mohun Bagan FC defence. Keeping ATK Mohun Bagan FC custodian Vishal Kaith busy and Ashique Kuruniyan in his new left back role struggling to mark Sahal Abdul Samad, the blasters took the visitors out of game for the first 25 min.

When it looked like the score card is going to remain same till the half time, ATK Mohun Bagan FC scored the equilizer at the 19th minute of the game. A quick counterattack against the flow of the game got them the equalizer they needed. Hugo Boumous rushed to the penalty box and passed the ball to Dimitri Petratos through a re-organizing Blasters defence. Experienced Australian made no mistake in guiding it to the net when the clock had 19 minutes more for the half time.
With both teams fighting toe to toe for the next goal and defenders tested on both ends, Manvir Singh slipping the ball through Blasters defence to find Joni Kauko on 38th minute made the score board tick again. This time for visitors which resulted in them taking the lead. Score board remained 1-2 in favour of the visitors when the half time whistle was blown.

Subhasish Bose replaced Ashique Kuruniyan for ATK Mohun Bagan FC soon after the half time. An experienced defender in back line gave the visitors more confidence in attack which resulted in a second goal from Dimitri Petratos in the 62nd minute which increased their lead. From a pinpoint pass from Liston Colaco inside the penalty box, the Australian who managed to slip through blasters defence line found the target at ease.With men in yellow down by 2 goals, Coach Ivan brought in fresh legs with a double replacement in 65th minute. When Blasters went with Rahul KP replacing Sahal Abdul Samad and Nishu Kumar replacing Harmanjot Singh Khabra, ATK Mohun Bagan FC replaced Deepak Tangri with Lenny Rodrigues. Trying to get the game back from visitors, blasters replaced Ivan Kalyuzhnyi with Apostolos Giannou on the 69th minute. This was countered by Florentin Pogba replacing Hugo Boumous for ATK Mohun Bagan FC on the 71st minute.

An individual brilliance with a blistering run and a powerful shot from Rahul KP slipped through the hands of Vishal Kaith made the score board ticking in favour of blasters. With 3-2 score line and continuous shots on target made it look like the ‘MEN IN YELLOW’ are all set for a comeback. But, soon after Lalrinliana Hnamte replying Manvir Singh on the 86th minute, visitors increased their lead through Lenny Rodrigues.

Game progressing to 2nd minute of the added time. An assist from Liston got the Dimitri Petratos registering the first hattrick in ISL 9. With 5 goals against 2, score board remained in favour of the visitors.Not a result which Kerala Blasters played for and not a result our fans wanted. But, losing is an opportunity for us from our mistakes. As coach Ivan say, ‘Football is a game of continuous learning and improvisation’.

With packed stadium of ‘YELLOW SEA’ and two teams fighting hard till the last minute for 3 points, the opening match for ISL 9 was electrifying in all means. A score line of 3-1 KERALA BLASTERS emerging victorious does not tell the complete story. With a tough fight till the end and scoring a goal against the flow of the game, EAST BENGAL FC have also sent out a clear message for opponents in the opening game itself.

The first ISL match open for the fans after the pandamic had all the beauty of possession football when both teams opted to play with a 4-4-2 formation.With Marko Leskovic narrowly missing the target at the 5th minute to a curler by Adrian Luna from the left corner, Blasters were first to get closer to goal.East Bengal made their presence felt in the game within no time. Intercepting a pass from the Blasters midfield, East Bengal was quick to get the ball through blasters defence line on the 7th minute. A powerful screamer by Alex Lima from just outside the penalty box was saved by Prabhsukhan Singh Gill through a full-length dive. Seconds left for the 10th minute our target man Apostolos Giannou managed to break the East Bengal defence for a cross from the captain Jessel Carneiro but missed the target. Blasters again came close to scoring on the 25th minute. Sahal Abdul Samad switched to the left wing and reached closer to the East Bengal goal line. Noticing that the East Bengal defenders were quick to block the target, he passed the ball to Lalthathanga Khawlhring (Puitea) who took a shot which missed the goal post narrowly. A freekick attempt on target from Adrian Luna was denied by East Bengal goalkeeper Kamaljit Singh with a magnificent save.

Failing to score in the first 45 minutes, Kerala Blasters attack became more consistent in the second half. Kamaljit Singh emerged as a saviour for East Bengal twice. A powerful shot on target from Apostolos Giannou at the 49th minute and a close range shot from Adrian Luna at the 53rd minute was denied by individual brilliance from the East Bengal custodian. Blasters replaced Sahal Abdul Samad with Rahul KP at the 71st minute to add freshness to attack.

First Goal of ISL 9 came in at the 72nd minute through a long ball assist by Harmanjot Singh Khabra from middle of the pitch. Adrian Luna managed to break the East Bengal defence and guide the ball to the net with his first touch.With 20 minutes more to the regular time, Coach Ivan Vukomanović introduced one of his lethal weapons to ISL 9. Ukrainian central midfielder Ivan Kaliuzhnyi came in for attacker Apostolos Giannou. With this change, Blasters switched to an Indian foreign combo with Rahul KP joining Dimitrios.Diamantakos in attack. By converting a brilliant individual run in 82nd minute and a powerful volley in 89th minute to goals, Ivan Kaliuzhnyi emerged as the super-sub for Kerala Blasters in the opening match. East Bengal was not ready to go down without a fight. Alex Lima managed to remain unmarked inside the Blasters penalty box to convert a corner to goal for the Red and Gold Brigade at the 88th minute