Kerala Blasters vs Bengaluru FC, ISL 2023-24 Highlights: Kerala Exact Their Revenge Over Bengaluru With 2-1 Win

And the referee blows the final whistle! Revenge has been exacted by the Blasters as they put away Bengaluru 2-1 in the opening fixture of the tenth edition of the ISL.

Bengaluru will be beating themselves up over their unforced errors, which cost them the win here in Kochi today. Curtis Main’s efforts go in vain and the crowd goes berserk under the rain celebrating the home side’s victory.

Kerala Blasters make another substitution with the last two minutes of play left.

IN: Bidyashagar Singh OUT: Kwame Peprah

Bengaluru still are in the game as the referee indicates for seven minutes of added time.

Curtis Main calmly taps one into the back of the net at the 90th minute to provide Bengaluru with a fighting chance at a draw.

The pressure starts to mount on Blasters, who are now on the receiving end of a flurry of attacks and corners from Bengaluru, who are desperate for a breakthrough.

To say that Bengaluru are frustrated would be an understatement, as Williams goes in on a wild tackle. Kerala, on the other hand, bring in Freddy for Aimen.

Bengaluru’s desperation is at an all-time high as they go on to make two more substitutions, bringing in Patre and Molla for Siva and Rohit.

Bengaluru’s confidence seems to have taken a hit, as the Blasters once again regain major possession and continue to probe Bengaluru’s defense in hopes of adding on to their goal tally.

Chaos unfolds for Bengaluru as Sandhu loses control of a pass and Blasters’ skipper Adrian Luna jumps in at the right time to tap it in.

Bengaluru make a drastic triple substitution as the team pushes forward to find their equalizer and get back into the game.

OUT: Keziah Veedorp, Aleksandar Jovanovic, Namgyal Bhutia IN: Javi Hernandez, Curtis Main, Parag Shrivas

The game seems to have come alive yet again, as Bengaluru begin to push against the Blasters’ midfield. Siva unloads from distance but does not trouble Suresh, who collects it calmly.

Disaster strikes for Bengaluru as Veendorf heads the ball into his won goal from a Blasters’ corner, to open the account for the tournament, and the Blasters finally have their breakthrough.

Bengaluru’s Jovanovic takes a fall, clutching his Achilles. But, no need for any worries, as the game resumes yet again with The Blasters playing the ball forward to get caught offside.

Kerala tried to play through the middle of the field, but Peprah unleashes one off from distance, wide away from goal.

The second half kicks off and both teams pick up from where they left off, trying to find a breakthrough.

Blasters started off with quite some promise as they maintained the possession. But, lacklustre passes and precarious fouls allowed Bengaluru to find their footing and impose themselves on the game as the half progressed.

Both teams indulge in a game of hot potato as the referee blows the whistle for half-time. And it is 0-0 as of the end of the first half of an evenly-matched encounter here in Kochi.

One minute of extra time is added on.

The Blasters begin to counter-press Bengaluru back, as Peprah who claimed the ball off a misplaces pass, takes a crack at goal for the Blasters’ third attempt on goal. But, Sandhu is completely unbothered by it.

Rohan unleashes a cross-turned shot from the right flank and it almost gets the better of Suresh who has to tip it over the top to give Bengaluru a corner. But, still nothing comes from it. But, the momentum has now visibly shifted.

Lackadaisical passing from the Blasters is starting to provide Bengaluru with more momentum as they finally start to make advances into the final third.