Kerala Blasters vs Bengaluru FC: In an action-packed encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Bengaluru FC emerged victorious over Kerala Blasters with a 3-1 scoreline, despite Kerala dominating large portions of the game.
Bengaluru took an early lead in the 8th minute through a Pereyra Diaz goal.
Diaz capitalized on a poor defensive pass from Pritam Kotal, slipping past the Kerala goalkeeper with a well-executed chip. Kerala responded with high intensity, creating numerous opportunities, with Adrian Luna and Kwame Peprah spearheading their attacks.
Despite controlling 57% possession and registering 15 shots, they struggled to convert. Bengaluru’s defense, particularly their goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GSS), stood firm under relentless pressure, making crucial saves to deny Kerala the equalizer until late in the first half.
As the first half neared its end, Kerala found a breakthrough in dramatic fashion. Bengaluru’s Rahul Bheke conceded a penalty in stoppage time after a foul on Peprah, and Jesus Jimenez calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner, restoring parity for the home side.
Kerala went into halftime looking the more dominant team, but the score remained 1-1. The second half saw Kerala continue their aggressive approach, but it was Bengaluru who struck again. In the 74th minute, a critical error from young goalkeeper Som Kumar handed the ball to substitute Edgar Mendez.
Mendez didn’t waste the opportunity, putting Bengaluru back in the lead at 2-1. Kerala pressed on, with multiple attempts thwarted by Bengaluru’s well-organized defense and the heroic efforts of GSS.
As the game drew to a close, Kerala’s hopes were dashed when another lapse in concentration by Som led to Mendez’s second goal of the night in the 94th minute, effectively sealing the win for Bengaluru. Despite Kerala’s superior stats, Bengaluru’s clinical finishing and Kerala’s defensive errors defined the match.
This allowed Bengaluru to walk away with three points. Kerala will rue their missed opportunities and defensive mistakes, while Bengaluru will celebrate a hard-fought victory, reinforcing their position in the league standings.