ISL Round Up: East Bengal Triumph Over Kerala Blasters

East Bengal Returns to Winning Ways with a 2-1 Victory Over Kerala Blasters
ISL Round Up: East Bengal Triumph Over Kerala Blasters

East Bengal FC secured a crucial 2-1 victory against Kerala Blasters FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. The win marked a vital turnaround for the Torch Bearers, who snapped their three-game losing streak and recorded their first victory since December 21. P.V. Vishnu and Hijazi Maher scored for the home side, while substitute Danish Farooq netted a late consolation goal for the visitors.

First Half: East Bengal Takes the Lead

The game began with Kerala Blasters enjoying the majority of possession. Their passing was precise as they tried to dominate the early exchanges, but East Bengal’s disciplined defensive shape thwarted their initial attempts. In the 15th minute, Kerala Blasters had their first chance when Naorem Mahesh Singh initiated a counter-attack. His pass found Dimitrios Diamantakos in space, but goalkeeper Sachin Suresh made a crucial save to keep the match level.

East Bengal soon shifted gears, with their Brazilian forward Cleiton Silva playing a pivotal role in the attacking build-up. The breakthrough came in the 19th minute when Cleiton delivered an exquisite long diagonal ball to P.V. Vishnu on the left flank. Vishnu sprinted past his marker and cleverly chipped the ball over an advancing Sachin Suresh. Kerala’s defender Korou Singh failed to clear the ball in time, allowing it to roll into the net and giving East Bengal a 1-0 lead.

Vishnu’s Celebration after Goal (Image via ISL)

The goal energized the home side, who started creating more opportunities. Cleiton was at the heart of East Bengal’s attacking plays, testing Sachin Suresh with some well-struck shots. Venezuelan winger Richard Celis nearly doubled the lead with a powerful long-range strike in the 35th minute, only for the ball to rattle the crossbar.

Celis’s Sling Shot (Source: ISL)

 

Despite their dominance, East Bengal went into halftime with a narrow 1-0 lead.

Second Half: Hijazi Maher Extends the Advantage

Kerala Blasters came out with renewed intent in the second half, pushing forward in search of an equalizer. Noah Sadaoui orchestrated several attacking moves from the right flank, but the East Bengal defense, led by Lalchungnunga and Borja Herrera, held firm. The visitors brought on Kwame Peprah in the 58th minute to add more attacking firepower, and he nearly made an instant impact, but East Bengal’s defenders blocked his shot.

As Kerala Blasters piled on the pressure, East Bengal capitalized on a set-piece opportunity to double their advantage in the 72nd minute. Mahesh Singh’s pinpoint corner found Hijazi Maher unmarked in the box, and the Jordanian midfielder made no mistake, heading the ball past Sachin Suresh. The goal, Hijazi’s second of the season, gave East Bengal a 2-0 cushion and put them firmly in control.

Hijazi Maher’s celebration after a beautiful header (Source: ISL)

Late Drama: Danish Farooq’s Consolation Goal

Despite trailing by two goals, Kerala Blasters refused to give up and continued to attack in the final stages of the match. Their persistence paid off in the 84th minute when substitute Danish Farooq capitalized on a defensive lapse by East Bengal. A poorly cleared ball fell to Farooq, who calmly slotted it into the bottom corner to bring the scoreline to 2-1.

The late goal injected life into the game, with Kerala Blasters throwing everything forward in search of an equalizer. However, East Bengal’s defense stood tall, and goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill made a crucial save in stoppage time to deny Kerala Blasters any chance of a comeback.

Shotmap (Data source- Opta)

Key Players and Tactical Insights

East Bengal’s victory was a result of their well-executed counter-attacking strategy. Head coach Oscar Bruzon’s tactics were spot-on, with the team absorbing pressure and exploiting Kerala’s defensive vulnerabilities. Cleiton Silva was instrumental, not only providing the assist for the opening goal but also creating several scoring opportunities.

P.V. Vishnu’s pace and composure in front of goal were vital, while Hijazi Maher’s header showcased his awareness and positioning during set-pieces. On the defensive end, Lalchungnunga and Borja Herrera were rock-solid, making crucial interceptions and clearances.

xG Overflow (Data source- Opta)

Kerala Blasters, on the other hand, struggled to convert their possession into meaningful chances. While Noah Sadaoui was a constant threat on the right wing, the team’s over-reliance on him made their attacks predictable. Danish Farooq’s late goal highlighted his poaching ability, but it was too little, too late for the visitors.

Match momentum with Expected Threats (Data source: Opta)

Match Statistics

The match was evenly contested, but East Bengal edged out Kerala Blasters in key moments. Here are some noteworthy statistics from the game:

  • Possession: Kerala Blasters (55%) vs. East Bengal (45%)
  • Total Shots: East Bengal (13) vs. Kerala Blasters (11)
  • Shots on Target: East Bengal (6) vs. Kerala Blasters (2)
  • Big Chances: East Bengal (3) vs. Kerala Blasters (0)
  • Corners: East Bengal (6) vs. Kerala Blasters (2)
Passes in the final third (Data source: Opta)

East Bengal’s ability to create and convert big chances made the difference, while Kerala’s lack of clinical finishing proved costly.

Heatmap of both teams (Data source: Opta)

With this win, East Bengal climbed to 11th place in the ISL standings, tallying 17 points from 17 matches. The victory also ended their three-game losing streak, providing a much-needed morale boost as they look to finish the season on a positive note.

Kerala Blasters, despite the loss, remained in eighth place with 21 points from 18 matches. Head coach Ivan Vukomanovic will need to address the team’s lack of creativity and finishing if they are to maintain their playoff hopes.

East Bengal’s 2-1 win over Kerala Blasters was a testament to their resilience and tactical discipline. The Torch Bearers displayed grit and determination to bounce back from their recent slump, while Kerala Blasters’ inability to capitalize on their possession highlighted the need for greater attacking efficiency.

For the passionate fans at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, it was a night to remember as their team returned to winning ways. With the season entering its final stages, both teams will need to step up their performances to achieve their respective goals.


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