Panjim:Ivan Vukomanovic’s Kerala Blasters register a 1-0 victory over Mario Rivera’s SC East Bengal to attain the top four spot in the Indian Super League 2021 at Tilak Maidan on Monday.
KeralaBlasters defender Enes Sipovic scored the sole goal separating the sides. The encounter saw the debut for SC East Bengal youngster Rahul Paswan , in the tournament while Sanjeev Stalin made his first for the Yellow Army along with Rahul KP returning from the bench.
TEAM NEWS IN 📰@KeralaBlasters' @5sanjeevstalin makes his 1️⃣st #HeroISL start and @sc_eastbengal's Rahul Paswan debuts tonight! 💪#KBFCSCEB #LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/llI6tpDemE
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) February 14, 2022
Starting the game on a relative high, Kerala Blasters had a chance as early as the 13th minute when Adrian Luna provided Jorge Pereyra Diaz with a perfect cross. The latter failed to connect it to a length to put Kerala ahead. Luna was back in action again a few minutes later. The midfielder hurled a perfect cross at Alvaro Vasquez, but Sankar Roy was quick to collect it. Kerala Blasters seemed really lovely in the attacking third where the other way things were comparatively low.
.@AlvaroVazquez91 connects a header but it's straight at the keeper!
Watch the #KBFCSCEB game live on @DisneyPlusHS – https://t.co/erlFU5AMP5 and @OfficialJioTV
Live Updates: https://t.co/ND1zXlZK0S#HeroISL #LetsFootball | @KeralaBlasters pic.twitter.com/E7wcZFpZQJ
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) February 14, 2022
The later quarter of the first half saw a lot of chances missed by Kerala, prominently through Vasquez. While the Red and Gold Brigade missed a golden opportunity to go upfront when debutant Paswan missed shortly an assist, perfectly ran down by Antonio Perosevic. While, players like Jeakson Singh and Sahal Abdul Samad missed their chances of getting on the score sheet, Adrian Luna possessed a continuous threat for the sides. Despite numerous efforts, the scores remain tied at the half time mark.
It's been a cagey start, but @KeralaBlasters captain Adrian Luna is looking to make a difference 👊#KBFCSCEB #HeroISL #LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/R3EhJnPWir
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) February 14, 2022
Coming from the break, it took the Yellow Army only four minutes to find the breaking goal. Enes Sipovic slotted in a clinically taken corner by Khawlhring. A quarter later, Rivera’s men seemed to have got on the hold of the game, when Sota’s corner was taken precisely. Custodian Prabhsukhan Gill denied Perosevic’s left footed volley to keep his side in lead.
Big man Enes Sipovic scores his first #HeroISL goal! 👊🤩
Watch out for his celebration 🕺🏻
Watch the #KBFCSCEB game live on @DisneyPlusHS – https://t.co/erlFU5AMP5 and @OfficialJioTV
Live Updates: https://t.co/ND1zXlZK0S#HeroISL #LetsFootball | @KeralaBlasters pic.twitter.com/rKdwypC0J7
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) February 14, 2022
Despite numerous attempts by Antonio Perosevic, the woes continued for Mario Rivera’s men. Absence of a feeder in the line-up as well as a spark in the final third was clearly visible as the team failed to test Gill. Fransisco Sota almost got the equalizer for his side, with eight minutes left from the regulation time, but narrowly missed the target.
With the win, the team from the South attained the third position in the league with 26 points while SCEB remain at tenth with only 17 points, being numerically out from the top four race.
Kerala Blasters FC will be facing ATK Mohun Bagan next on February 19th while SC East Bengal will take on Mumbai City FC in an endeavour to register a win.
