The yellow wall at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was silenced tonight as Inter Kashi FC pulled off a stunning 2-1 victory against Kerala Blasters FC in today’s ISL clash.
Despite dominating possession at 61%, Kerala Blasters could not translate their dominance into goals, firing 13 shots but managing only 3 on target throughout the game.
Inter Kashi, disciplined and clinical with just 39% possession, showed that efficiency beats territory as they punished the Blasters on the counter with deadly precision.
First Half — Petkevičius Breaks the Deadlock
The first half was tense and cagey, with both sides feeling each other out in the opening exchanges at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium under a packed crowd.
The first booking came at the 30th minute when Muhammed Saheef of Kerala Blasters picked up a yellow card from referee Tejas Nagvenkar for a reckless challenge.
Inter Kashi broke the deadlock at the 34th minute. Nauris Petkevičius, playing as midfielder #11, slotted home with an assist from Alfred Planas to give Kashi a 0-1 lead.
The first half ended with Kerala trailing 0-1 at the break, facing an uphill battle. Inter Kashi’s Sandip Mandi also received a yellow card at 43′ to add to the drama.
Second Half — Inter Kashi Doubles Their Lead
Kerala Blasters came out with renewed energy in the second half, making four substitutions at the 46-minute mark to freshen up their squad and change the game’s momentum.
Ebindas Yesudasan replaced Danish Farooq; Marlon Roos-Trujillo came in for Oumar Bah; Bikash Yumnam replaced Muhammed Saheef; and Inter Kashi brought in Prasanth Karuthadathkuni.
Yellow cards continued to fly. Sumeet Passi of Inter Kashi was booked at the 56th minute, followed by Kerala’s Huidrom Naocha Singh receiving his yellow card at the 62nd minute.
Inter Kashi struck again at the 78th minute! Alfred Planas, Striker #7, powered home with a goal assisted by Nauris Petkevičius, sending the score to 0-2 and devastating the home fans.
Goals & Key Events Timeline
| Minute | Event | Player / Team |
|---|---|---|
| 30′ | Yellow Card | Muhammed Saheef (Kerala Blasters) |
| 34′ | GOAL | Nauris Petkevičius (Inter Kashi) |
| 43′ | Yellow Card | Sandip Mandi (Inter Kashi) |
| 56′ | Yellow Card | Sumeet Passi (Inter Kashi) |
| 62′ | Yellow Card | Huidrom Naocha Singh (Kerala Blasters) |
| 78′ | GOAL | Alfred Planas (Inter Kashi) — Asst: N. Petkevičius |
| 84′ | GOAL | Víctor Bertomeu (Kerala Blasters) — Asst: E. Yesudasan |
| 88′ | Yellow Card | Marlon Roos-Trujillo (Kerala Blasters) |
Víctor Bertomeu Gives Kerala Hope at 84′
Kerala Blasters refused to give up! Striker Víctor Bertomeu de la Hoz (#7) headed in brilliantly at the 84th minute, assisted by Ebindas Yesudasan, to reduce the deficit to 1-2.
The goal sent the crowd into a frenzy as the Blasters pushed hard for an equalizer in the dying minutes, but Inter Kashi’s resolute defense held firm, shutting down every attempt.
Inter Kashi also made a late substitution at the 90+2′ mark, bringing on Mohammed Asif Khan for Alfred Planas to manage the clock and protect their precious one-goal advantage.
A yellow card for Marlon Roos-Trujillo at the 88th minute added to the tension, but the final whistle at 90+8′ confirmed a memorable 2-1 victory for Inter Kashi FC tonight.
Full Team Statistics
| Stat | Kerala Blasters | Inter Kashi |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | 13 | 6 |
| Shots on Target | 3 | 3 |
| Possession | 61% | 39% |
| Fouls | 11 | 8 |
| Yellow Cards | 3 | 2 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Offsides | 0 | 1 |
| Corners | 4 | 5 |
Tactical Breakdown — Clinical Kashi vs Wasteful Blasters
Kerala Blasters set up in a 5-3-2 formation under manager D. Català, with A. A. Shaikh in goal and the attack spearheaded by Víctor Bertomeu and Kadeem Yoke upfront.
Inter Kashi deployed a compact 4-4-2 and relied on the pace and creativity of Nauris Petkevičius and Alfred Planas to trouble the Blasters’ backline with devastating effect tonight.
The stat that hurts Kerala most is 13 shots, 61% possession, yet just 1 goal. Inter Kashi’s 6 shots and 3 on target were far more efficient, proving that clinical finishing wins games.
Man of the Match — Alfred Planas
Alfred Planas (Inter Kashi, Striker #7) was the standout performer tonight. He bagged a goal, provided an assist, and was a constant menace to the Kerala Blasters’ defense throughout.
Nauris Petkevičius also deserves special mention for opening the scoring and setting up Planas’ goal, a brilliant midfield display that drove Inter Kashi’s historic away win in Kochi.
Conclusion: Kerala face Defeat by 2-1 Against Inter Kashi
This defeat will sting for the Yellow Army. Kerala Blasters now need to regroup quickly, address their finishing issues, and turn their superior possession into actual goals going forward.
Inter Kashi FC, on the other hand, will be absolutely buzzing. This victory shows that they are a serious team capable of beating any side on their day in the ISL this season.
The ISL continues to deliver breathtaking drama, and this match was no exception. Fans can expect both teams to come back stronger as the season heats up in the weeks ahead.
