The iconic Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata once again hosted a pulsating ISL clash. East Bengal FC welcomed Kerala Blasters FC under the evening lights, promising drama.
Both teams lined up in identical 4-3-3 formations, setting the tone for a tactical battle. The home fans at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan were buzzing with electric anticipation.
East Bengal FC held 53% possession, showing confidence in the ball. Kerala Blasters FC, meanwhile, were sharp in transition and dangerous on counter-attacks throughout the game.
Starting Line-ups
East Bengal FC started with P.S. Gill in goal. Their back four featured M. Rakip, A. Ali, J. Thaunaojam, and V.P.V. as a solid defensive unit to keep Kerala at bay.
The midfield engine room consisted of S. Crespo, M. Rashid, and Miguel Figueira. The attacking trio of E. Lalrindika, Y. Ezzejjari, and B. Singh led the charge upfront with aggression.
Kerala Blasters lined up with A.A. Shaikh as their custodian. H.N. Singh, R. Hormipam, F. Ndiaye, and S. Singh formed their back line, tasked with keeping East Bengal’s forwards quiet.
Kerala’s midfield included V. Mohanan, D. Farooq, and A. Dohling. The front three of K. Yoke, M. Ajsal, and E. Yesudasan were asked to create and convert chances throughout the game.
First Half: East Bengal Strike Early With A Penalty!
Barely 10 minutes in, and Salt Lake Stadium erupted! Aibanbha Dohling of Kerala Blasters was shown a yellow card for a foul inside the penalty box, giving East Bengal a massive opportunity.
Up stepped the clinical Youssef Ezzejjari, East Bengal’s striker, wearing the coveted No. 9 jersey. He held his nerve brilliantly and slotted home the penalty to put East Bengal 1-0 up.
The Moroccan striker’s penalty goal in just the 11th minute silenced the Kerala Blasters bench. East Bengal fans went absolutely wild, chanting in the stands as the half-time whistle approached.
Kerala Blasters tried hard to find an equalizer before the break, but East Bengal’s defense held firm. Half-time score: East Bengal FC 1 – 0 Kerala Blasters FC.
Second Half: Tactical Adjustments And Fresh Legs
Oscar Bruzon made his first change for East Bengal in the 54th minute, sending Souvik Chakraborty on for the tired-looking Saul Crespo in central midfield. Smart management from the bench.
Kerala Blasters responded decisively too, bringing on Jai Quitongo for Vibin Mohanan in the 66th minute. The striker’s introduction was meant to inject pace and directness upfront.
East Bengal made their second change at the same time, replacing striker Edmund Lalrindika with defender Jay Gupta in the 66th minute to protect their narrow one-goal lead.
Marlon Roos-Trujillo entered the game for Danish Farooq at the 80th minute for Kerala. The midfielder’s arrival added fresh energy and creativity to the Blasters’ attacking moves.
East Bengal also made their final change at 83 minutes, with Mahesh Singh Naorem replacing Bipin Singh Thounaojam. Oscar Bruzon was clearly managing his squad’s energy levels carefully.
Nihal Sudeesh also came on for Aibanbha Dohling at the 80th minute for Kerala Blasters, as the defender had picked up a yellow card earlier and risked further trouble.
90+2′: Muhammad Ajsal Breaks Hearts with a Stunning Header!
Just when it seemed East Bengal were heading for a famous victory, Kerala Blasters delivered a gut-punch! Deep into injury time, substitute E. Yesudasan whipped in a dangerous cross from the right.
Muhammad Ajsal, wearing jersey No. 19, rose magnificently above the East Bengal defense and powered a header into the back of the net. The Salt Lake erupted with disbelief, and Blasters’ fans celebrated wildly.
The goal in the 90th minute plus 2 minutes was an absolute heartbreaker for East Bengal. That single moment of magic from Ajsal had snatched a draw right at the death for Kerala Blasters.
Fallou Ndiaye of Kerala Blasters had already been booked with a yellow card in the 87th minute. The tension was absolutely unbearable during those final breathless minutes of the match.
Match Stats: How Both Teams Compared
| Stat | East Bengal FC | Kerala Blasters FC |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | 9 | 7 |
| Shots on Target | 1 | 3 |
| Possession | 53% | 47% |
| Fouls | 8 | 10 |
| Yellow Cards | 0 | 2 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Offsides | 0 | 2 |
| Corners | 7 | 3 |
East Bengal dominated possession with 53% but managed only 1 shot on target from 9 attempts. Kerala Blasters were sharper in front of goal, registering 3 shots on target from just 7 total shots.
Kerala Blasters committed 10 fouls compared to East Bengal’s 8. Both teams struggled with discipline, with Blasters earning 2 yellow cards while East Bengal remained clean with 0 bookings.
East Bengal earned an impressive 7 corners compared to Kerala’s 3. Despite that set-piece dominance, they could not convert their opportunities until Ezzejjari’s penalty saved them in the first half.
All Substitutions at a Glance
| Time | Player In | Player Out | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 54′ | Souvik Chakraborty | Saul Crespo | East Bengal FC |
| 66′ | Jay Gupta | Edmund Lalrindika | East Bengal FC |
| 66′ | Jai Quitongo | Vibin Mohanan | Kerala Blasters FC |
| 80′ | Nihal Sudeesh | Aibanbha Dohling | Kerala Blasters FC |
| 80′ | Marlon Roos-Trujillo | Danish Farooq | Kerala Blasters FC |
| 83′ | Mahesh Singh Naorem | Bipin Singh Thounaojam | East Bengal FC |
| 90+8′ | Freddy Lallawmawma | Ebindas Yesudasan | Kerala Blasters FC |
| 90+8′ | Muhammed Saheef | Hormipam Ruivah | Kerala Blasters FC |
Conclusion: A Draw That Felt Like a Win for Kerala
In the end, a 1-1 draw at the Salt Lake Stadium kept both teams’ ISL campaigns alive and kicking. East Bengal will rue their missed chances, but they showed real character in battling hard.
For Kerala Blasters FC, this draw feels like a massive point rescued. Muhammad Ajsal’s last-gasp header proved that this team never gives up and always fights until the final whistle.
This thrilling match is a reminder of why the Indian Super League captures millions of hearts every season. Both sets of fans were treated to drama, passion, and pure football joy.
