Last Updated:
The Tuskers romped to a 3-1 triumph over CFC as Jesus Jiminez, Korou Singh Thingujam and Kwame Peprah all found the target while CFC, who had Wilmar Jordan Gil sent off in the first period, grabbed a consolation from Vincy Baretto.

Kerala Blasters had a brilliant Thursday. (@KeralaBlasters on X)
Kerala Blasters FC posted a dominant 3-1 win over Chennaiyin FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Thursday. Strikes from Jesus Jiminez, Korou Singh Thingujam and Kwame Peprah helped the Tuskers to all three points on offer in a game Chennai played mostly with ten men after Wilmar Jordan Gil was given the marching orders. Chennai netted their consolation through Vincy Baretto in second-half stoppage time.
Owen Coyle handed Mohammad Nawaz the nod in goal behind Laldinliana Renthlei, Pritam Kotal, Ryan Edwards and Laldinpuia PC. Connor Shields, Lalrinliana Hnamte and Farukh Choudhary were in midfield with Lukas Brambilla in an advanced role. Wilmar Jordan Gil and Irfan Yadwad made up the strike partnership for the hosts.
KBFC boss Purushothaman opted for Sachin Suresh between the sticks with Naocha Singh Huidrom, Milos Drincic, Ruivah Hormipam and Sandeep Singh in defence. Danish Farooq and Adrian Luna held the middle of the park while R Lalthanmawia and Korou Singh Thingujam were on either wing. Kwame Peprah was given the creative responsibilities behind the lone striker Jesus Jimines.
The Blasters have a proud tradition of turning up in hordes irrespective of the ground their beloved team contests in, and the traveling Manjapada were given an early delight as Jimenez put the Tuskers ahead barely three minutes into the game.
Chennaiyin tried rallying their way into the game after the early setback but were constantly shut out from troubling their goalkeeper by the KBFC defensive setup. The hosts were handed a further blow as the referee saw it fit to send Wilmar Jordan into the tunnel for an early shower in the 37th minute of the game.
Chennai had their best chance at goal around halftime as a teasing ball into the danger from Choudhary following his dancing run found Shields in the middle but the Brit couldn’t put the telling touch on it to send it into the net.
Kerala piled yet more misery on the home side as they stretched the CFC defense with an incredible bit of link-up play involving five players, from left to right in an orchestral fashion, before Luna set Korou Thingujam up for the side’s second goal of the night to evoke loud celebrations from the away stand.
There was no respite for the hosts after the break either as KBFC extended their cushion to three when Peprah sent a bulge into the net with a deft touch following another assist by Luna.
Coyle made a triple substitution bringing on Elsinho, Vincy Baretto and Daniel Chukwu Cheema to salvage some pride at the hour mark, but to no avail.
The Tuskers refreshed their lineup with the introduction of Dusan Lagator and Vibin Mohanan, but it was the reinforcement of Noah Sadaoui and Ishan Pandita that received a warm reception from the joyous traveling fans.
CFC had something to cheer about towards the end of the game as Baretto deposited one into the back of the net from close range.