Kochi: Kerala Blasters started the season with a win in Kochi witnessing a gallery full of yellow sea. Blasters won 3-1 in the second half in which it rained goals. Adrian Luna (72) and Ivan Kalushny (82, 89) scored for Blasters while East Bengal player Alex Lima (88) found the consolation goal. After a scoreless first half, changes made by Blasters coach Ivan Vukomanovic in the second half turned the tide of the match.
∙ Goalless first half
Both teams had a lot of chances, but the first half only saw no goals. The game started with East Bengal advancing. The Malayali player VP Zuhair’s shot went outside the Blasters post. Then Sumit Pasi’s move was caught by Blasters goalie Prabhsukhan Gill. Alex Lima’s shot was saved by the Blasters goalie. After the initial faltering, the East Bengal box was constantly rattled as the Blasters began to attack.
The match was briefly halted after Jackson argued with the East Bengal players after East Bengal’s Evan Gonzalez brought down Blasters player Dimitrios Diamantakos. There was a push and shove between the players. The referee intervened and calmed down the scene. East Bengal were awarded a free kick in the 41st minute for bringing down Adrian Luna, but the Blasters failed to capitalize. East Bengal scored when Luna kicked the ball towards the post.
∙ In the second half, yellow sea cucumber
From the beginning of the second half, Blasters attacked and played continuously. The number of fouls increased as East Bengal tightened their defence. East Bengal’s Ankit Mukherjee was shown a yellow card for bringing down Luna. The referee issued a yellow card against Lalchungnuna as well. East Bengal later saw the strategy of Ivan Vukomanovic, who plays the game by throwing the field. The Blasters’ attacks became sharper when Rahul was brought in instead of Sahal.
Blasters scored their first goal in the 72nd minute. Blasters made a double substitution soon after. Ivan Kalyushny replaced Putiya and Bidyasagar replaced Apostles. Evan excited the Yellow Sea in Kochi by scoring at 82 and 89 minutes. Meanwhile, Alex Lima also scored a consolation goal for East Bengal in the 88th minute.
∙ Blasters’ goals
72- Harmanjyot Khabra’s extended long ball hit the East Bengal post by Adrian Luna. Excitement in the gallery as the ball hit the post and entered the net.
82 – Ukraine’s Ivan Kalyushny takes the ball down the middle of the pitch after coming on as a substitute. Evan jumped into the box and easily overcame his opponents. Rushed into the box with the ball to the right corner and a super shot into the net.
89 – First time volley by Ivan Kalyushnyi with right foot from East Bengal box. The ball went past the East Bengal goalie and into the net for Blasters’ third goal.
English Summary: Kerala Blasters vs East Bengal- Match Updates