East Bengal defeated Kerala Blasters 2-1 in a recent ISL match. Read the detailed analysis of the game, pre-match conditions and key players
East Bengal FC and Kerala Blasters FC have recently clashed in the Indian Super League (ISL), with both teams looking to improve their standings. The match took place on January 24th, with East Bengal hosting Kerala Blasters at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.
Prior to the match, both teams were in a precarious position. Kerala Blasters were eighth in the league table with 21 points from 17 matches, while East Bengal was 11th with 14 points from 16 matches. Kerala Blasters were aiming to solidify their position in the top six, while East Bengal were eager to regain momentum after a series of losses.
East Bengal came into the game on a three-match losing streak, with a possibility of registering their fourth consecutive defeat. Kerala Blasters, meanwhile, had just snapped a four-game away losing streak with a win against Punjab FC. They were looking to secure back-to-back away victories for the first time since December 2023. A notable improvement in Kerala Blasters’ performance came under interim head coach TG Purushothaman, where their goals conceded per game average reduced significantly. However, East Bengal was looking to overcome their goalless streak as they had not scored in their last two matches.
In terms of head-to-head records, the two teams have played nine matches, with Kerala Blasters winning four times and East Bengal winning twice, with three draws. In their previous encounter on September 22, 2024, Kerala Blasters had won 2-1. East Bengal also had a poor record scoring in the first 15 minutes of the match.
The match started with Kerala Blasters having more possession in the initial phase, but East Bengal waited for counter-attacking opportunities. East Bengal took the lead in the 20th minute with a goal by PV Vishnu, assisted by Cleiton Silva, and extended their lead with a goal by Hijazi Maher in the 72nd minute. Danish Farooq scored a late consolation goal for Kerala Blasters. The game ended with East Bengal winning 2-1.
Key players were in focus for both teams. Noah Sadaoui of Kerala Blasters has been a key player, having contributed 12 goals this season, and is close to becoming the third-highest contributor in a single season for the team. Cleiton Silva of East Bengal is approaching a milestone of 50 goal contributions in ISL history, although he has had a dry run this season. Adrian Luna has also been crucial to Kerala Blasters’ attacking setup. In the recent match, Noah orchestrated most of the Kerala Blasters moves.
Both coaches, Oscar Bruzon of East Bengal and TG Purushothaman of Kerala Blasters, expressed confidence in their teams. Bruzon acknowledged the potential of his team, while Purushothaman highlighted the detailed game planning for each match. The match was broadcasted live on various platforms, including JioCinema and Sports 18.
In conclusion, the match between East Bengal FC and Kerala Blasters FC was a significant encounter for both teams, with East Bengal securing a crucial win after a series of losses.
Sources: https://www.indiansuperleague.com/news/preview-east-bengal-fc-host-kerala-blasters-fc-in-a-crunch-isl-encounter
https://sports.ndtv.com/indian-super-league/east-bengal-break-4-game-winless-streak-with-2-1-win-against-kerala-blasters-7551787
https://www.espn.in/espn/story/_/id/43534979/east-bengal-host-kerala-blasters-isl-hockey-india-league-indian-sports-live-january-24-2025