Presented below are this week’s fixtures, accompanied by their respective summaries (starting with the most recent match):
March 14: East Bengal FC versus Kerala Blasters FC (5 PM) and Bengaluru FC versus Mohun Bagan SG (7.30 PM)
March 15: NorthEast United FC versus Jamshedpur FC (5 PM) and Inter Kashi versus Mumbai City FC (7.30 PM)
March 16: Punjab FC versus FC Goa (7.30 PM)
East Bengal FC 1 – 1 Kerala Blasters FC
(Youssef Ezzejjari (P) 10′ – Muhammad Ajsal 90+2′)
The Kerala Blasters secured their inaugural season points by netting an equalizer deep into stoppage time, snatching a draw from East Bengal, a side that had maintained a lead for the majority of the match. This outcome propelled the Blasters to the twelfth position, concurrently seeing East Bengal ascend to third.
The match began unfavorably for Kerala Blasters, as Aiban gave away a penalty in the ninth minute following an infringement on Youssef Ezzejjari, although video reviews indicated the forward might have been slightly offside. Subsequently, the player from Morocco calmly converted the spot-kick, deceiving the goalkeeper and granting East Bengal an initial advantage. The home team did not capitalize further on their lead, allowing the Blasters to gradually find their rhythm, with Danish Farooq and Kévin Yoke narrowly missing scoring opportunities. An equalizer almost materialized just before the interval, as Fallou Ndiaye’s unchallenged header from a corner kick sailed just past the post; nevertheless, East Bengal entered halftime with a 1-0 advantage.
Post-recess, the contest unfolded in a comparable manner, with East Bengal struggling to convert their ball control into goals, whereas the Blasters sought opportunities through counter-attacks. Around the sixty-minute mark, substitute Jai Quitongo nearly made an immediate impression, but his driven cross into the penalty area narrowly eluded Muhammad Ajsal. Despite this, Ajsal ultimately found the net, securing the Blasters’ leveling goal during added time. The forward, unmarked within the eighteen-yard box from Ebindas Yesudasan’s corner delivery, simply had to direct a header downwards and into the goal, thereby securing a valuable draw for the Blasters.
