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Despite going down to nine men, the visiting Blasters would weather the Punjab attack and edge them out, extending the Shers’ losing streak to four games.
ISL 2024-25: PFC 0-1 KBFC. (X)
In a contest rife with chances, chaos and cards altogether, Kerala Blasters’ Noah Sadaoui would prove to be the point of difference, as the visitors wrapped up a gritty 1-0 win over Punjab FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday.
Following a historic start to their season in the ISL, three losses in a row doomed the Shers to the bottom half of the table as Punjab are now left struggling to scrape their way up to playoff contention.
Kerala have done themselves no favour so far this season either, having notched up just one win in the last five game of their campaign, lying at a measly 10th in the table.
The need for three points was dire for both sides facing off in New Delhi. If their last encounter earlier in the season, a 2-1 thriller that ended in favour of PFC, was any indication, both sides were not going to hold anything back to get it either.
Punjab started off the game as the chippier side, as the trio of Suljic-Suhail-Nihal brought about an injection of pace from kick-off. But, the Blasters looked more composed, targeting the left flank of the Shers, consistently making runs and finding incisive passes, yet failing to produce anything in the final third.
Frustrations began to get the better of the Shers, who hadn’t registered a single swipe at goal in the first 15 mins. Frustrations that percolated in a couple of yellow cards being awarded to Nikhil and Suhail, as KBFC continued to hold their fort.
Following a missed freekick from Suljic, the game came alive, as the Blasters, anchored by Noah on the left flank, continued to surge ahead with confidence. KBFC skipper Luna finally got his swipe at goal, launching a rocket from outside the box, straight at returning first-choice keeper Shabir, who made the save.
This would merely be the beginning of an onslaught of chances, as Kerala would swarm the final third of the Shers at will, creating threatening looks at goal from corners galore.
The Blasters’ consistent pressure would finally crack PFC. Noah would embark on another menacing run, tempting Meitei to foul him on the edge of the box, winning a penalty in the 44th minute – one that would be calmly slotted it into the back of the net by the American himself to give his side the slender 1-0 lead at halftime.
In desperate need of inspiration, Dilimperis would bring on Leon Augustine for the wily Nihal, and the forward would repay the faith shown in him by amping up the pace up front, and bringing in a bit more confidence into PFC’ forays into the Blasters’ third.
Leon’s dynamic movement would prove be a thorn in the Blasters’ defense, as the winger would end up tormenting KBFC’s Drincic, tempting him into a harsh tackle only for the Blasters man to receive his second yellow card and get sent off, reducing the visitors to 10 men on the field.
Yet as a response to this, the visitors would remove their sole goalscorer Noah, in an unprecedented substitution that left both the fans and the American himself puzzled.
What would continue to ensue after would be a half rife with tackles, shoves and cards galore. And Leon would strike yet again, drawing a harsh foul from Aiban on the counter, and getting him sent off too, diminishing the ranks of the Blasters to 9 men.
Despite the numerical advantage, Punjab would scramble all over, failing to compose themselves and capitalise on their opportunities, whilst the visitors would continue to hold their fort.
A flurry of fluffed chances and chaotic contests percolated into nothing fruitful for the Shers till the very end, thereby handing over the win to the visiting Blasters, who held their nerve and composure to secure the three points.
With this win, Kerala Blasters move up to ninth in the ISL table, one place below Punjab who continue to add to their dreadful streak of losses.