Kerala Blasters FC held NorthEast United FC to a goalless draw at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi during their Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 match on Saturday.
Despite playing with 10 men for over 60 minutes, Kerala Blasters showcased remarkable defensive resilience to keep the Highlanders at bay and earned a well-deserved point, according to an official statement from ISL.
Early Chances and Kerala’s Strong Defense
In the 12th minute, Jithin MS came close to giving NorthEast United the lead when he latched onto a pass from Mohammed Bemammer following a corner. However, his shot lacked accuracy, sailing high and wide to the left.
Just three minutes later, Kerala Blasters’ Noah Sadaoui tried a similar effort from outside the box, aiming for the left corner of the goal, but his attempt went off target. Soon after, Kerala Blasters initiated an attack in the Highlanders’ defensive third, but Noah was caught offside.
Turning Point in the First Half
The game took a crucial turn in the 30th minute when Kerala Blasters’ Aibanbha Dohling was sent off for violent conduct. This left Kerala playing a man down for the remainder of the match, giving NorthEast United—one of the league’s highest-scoring teams—a chance to capitalize on their numerical advantage.
Just before halftime, Alaaeddine Ajaraie received a pass from Macarton Nickson outside the box and fired a left-footed shot, which was blocked by the Kerala Blasters defense. Bekey Oram continued to press, finding Ajaraie inside the box, but the striker’s shot was met with a top-notch save from Kerala Blasters goalkeeper, Sachin Suresh.
Second Half: Both Teams Pressing for the Win
Kerala Blasters came out strong in the second half, with Noah Sadaoui combining with Milos Drincic to test the NorthEast United defense. Noah’s powerful shot from the right was saved by goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh.
NorthEast United responded with Guillermo Fernandez and Buanthanglun Samte working together near the box. Samte found space on the left and took a shot in the 56th minute, but it sailed just wide of the target.
In the 68th minute, Nestor Albiach sent a pass to Ajaraie outside the box, but instead of setting up a play, the forward opted to shoot, sending the ball high above the net.
Late Pressure from NorthEast United
NorthEast United’s Fernandez had a golden opportunity in the 82nd minute, receiving a chance to score from inside the box with his right foot. However, Kerala Blasters’ well-organized defense successfully blocked the shot, preserving the goalless draw.
Key Players’ Performances
Milos Drincic delivered a solid performance, completing 29 of his 35 passes, making one tackle, and recording nine clearances, while guiding the Kerala Blasters defense with confidence.
Next Fixtures
Kerala Blasters FC will face East Bengal FC on January 24, while NorthEast United FC will square off against Hyderabad FC on January 29.