ISL 2022, Kerala Blasters vs East Bengal Live Updates: Both the teams will look to kickstart the new campaign with a win at the JLN Stadium. (Photos: ISL)The 2022/23 Indian Super League season will kickstart with the runner ups from the 2021/22 season, Kerala Blasters going up against East Bengal, who finished at the bottom of the table last season.
After two years in a bubble, the top-tier league in Indian football will return to a home-and-away format, with fans expected to throb the stadiums starting from the opener at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi.
Predicted XI:
Kerala Blasters FC: Prabhsukhan Gill, Jessel Carneiro, Victor Mongil, Sandeep Singh, Harmanjot Khabra, Jeakson Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad, Bryce Brian Miranda, Dimitrios Diamantakos, Rahul KP, Bidyashagar Singh
East Bengal FC: Kamaljit Singh, Ankit Mukherjee, Ivan Gonzalez, Mohamad Rakip, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Alex Lima, Amarjit Kiyam, Aniket Jadhav, Souvik Chakrabarti, Cleiton Silva, Eliandro
Photo: ISL/Twitter
Peep, Peeeep, PEEEEEEEEEP!
And that is it at the JLN Stadium. Kerala Blasters have started off their season with a 3-1 win. All four goals coming in the second half and quite the goals with excellent rewatch value. East Bengal would feel they gave away the plot after that first goal, even though the visitors put one back.
As if a solo run goal wasn't enough, Ivan Volodymyrovich Kalyuzhnyi scores a ridiculous long yarder to make it 3-1 for Kerala.
KBFC 3-1 EBFC
Screengrab: Hotstar
Goal off a corner for East Bengal and this match is far from over. Alex Monteiro de Lima scores a volley after Kerala make the initial save from the corner.
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Ivan Volodymyrovich Kalyuzhnyi with an absolutely stunning solo run from near the centre line, beats a host of East Bengal shirts, puts the ball behind the net for his first ISL goal. Wow. WOW.
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As Stephen Constantine prepares multiple substitutes near touchline, with close to 10 minutes of regulation time left in the match, can East Bengal find an attacking inspiration to level it. They have been by far the more defensive, or forced to defend side in this match so far. As of now, they need just the one goal to take a point home from tonight.
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LUNAAAAAA!
The number 20 opens the scoring for Kerala and ISL 2022/23 season. Perfection of a long ball into the penalty box and the Uruguayan puts that left foot of his to strike the ball and rattle the net.
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Ankit Mukherjee with a kick to Luna from behind and the Uruguayan goes down. Looks in some pain. Referee shows a second yellow inside two minutes.
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Chungnunga literally grapples Dimitriakos down from behind and earns a yellow.
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Yet another important save from Kamaljit, who has been the best player, by far, for East Bengal so far. Cross from Giannou, Luna finds the target but Kamlajit won't let it through.
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The numbers game comes into play again. Kerala have behaved like the home team, swarming their numbers up front for attack and here. A set of attacks leading to a deflection falling in for Giannou right in front of the goal but his volley is dealt with by Kamaljit Singh.
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A tackle near the centre line earns East Bengal possession and an opening on the left. Suhair beats his marker but his touch for the cross isn't the most perfect and takes the ball out for a goal kick.
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Kerala have been able to find spaces, acres of them at times, in the East Bengal defence but haven't been able to provide a finishing touch to take the lead. The pep talk at halftime is likely to be around the same. Expect more pressure, more numbers thrown up front from the yellow army as we get underway with the second half at the JLN stadium.
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And that is it for the first half at the JLN Stadium. Kerala by far the better team in the first half. Better in possession (62-38) and better in terms of the Expected Goals rate (0.36-0.08). East Bengal will definitely take that score at half time. First goal of the season yet to come.
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East Bengal are feeling the heat!
Luna's free kick from outside the box barely moves but goalkeeper Kamaljit Singh is unable to hold it or parry it clean, almost puts it into his own goal. Luckily for the team in white, only a corner conceded.
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No surprises as to why Kerala Blaster have had more chances of the two teams and why East Bengal haven't been able to push the home side apart from the odd set piece opening. Set up in a 4-4-2 formation, East Bengal's transition to attack is a conservative one, with three defenders inside their own box and a pivot guarding any openings in the middle. Kerala Blasters however, have still managed to find openings.
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Screengrab: Hotstar
First match of the season and it didn't take long for the referee to have a first big altercation to deal with. Ivan's tackle on Giannou starts it but almost very player on the pitch stepped in within seconds. Referee separates the two sets of players and passes a verbal warning. No bookings.
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Screengrab: Hotstar
Another move that originates on the left. Jessel opens room for Sahal on to walk into the box, the latter cuts inside and sets up Puitea who shoots one just wide of the right side post.
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Good bit of stat from the broadcast team. The two teams in action today have the youngest and the oldest squad in terms of average age this season.
Kerala Blasters: 24.79
East Bengal: 26.67
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After initial couple of counters on the left channel, East Bengal have loaded that side with more defenders, opening an opportunity for the hosts on the right. Three attempts come off the cross with the last one from Jessel shot way over.
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Kerala on the counter, with the roar of the Majapada army in the background, down that left hand side. Jessel with the perfect cross to set Giannou in front of goal but he shoots it over.
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