Bengaluru FC 1-1 Kerala Blasters Highlights: Diamantakos, Roy Krishna score, BFC through to Super Cup 2023 semis

Ishfaq Ahmed, KBFC Assistant coach

I think we did enough. They are a good team. I think the final pass was not there in the first half, for our team. But I am happy that the team showed character and it came back.

Simon Grayson, Bengaluru FC head coach

We didn’t start the group as we wanted to but ultimately we are through. We had to dig deep and really pleased and proud of the players for the performance tonight. We got five men at the back lately so that we did not concede another goal and that worked.

Javi, Bengaluru FC

I am happy because we’re performing very well in the second part of the season. Tonight we were the better team. The ISL final loss was hard for us and we will try to win this tournament.

Despite the goal by Diamantakos, Kerala Blasters fails to make it to the semifinal with BFC still leading Group A and will make the cut for the semifinals in the Super Cup 2023.

Nishu tries to get the ball off Roy Krishna but ends up giving BFC the free-kick.Bfc takes it quick and nothing more comes if it as Grayson’s side looks to run put the game.

Gurpreet comes out of the box to take the free-kick. He kicks it long for Krishna who connects, but fails to connect well enough to cause trouble for Sachin and the ball goes out for a goal kick.

Mongil takes the free-kick which is well off-target and Sahal is ready to get into the pitch. He replaces Vibin in the midfield and the local fans continues their cheers for the Kerala boy.

Udanta tries to steal the ball off Diamantakos and ends up gifting a free-kick to KBFC. This may just be the most crucial free-kick of the match and the goal scorer is ready with Mongil to take the kick.

A goal by Kerala from here would see KBFC into the semifinals while a draw or a win for BFC might secure its spot in the semis. But for either, Sreenidi will have to lose to RG Punjab.

Kerala Blassters looks to march up the pitch with small passes. Hormipam tries to get a cross through but Perez uses his experience to earn a free-kick in his own half.

Pablo, Rane replace Chhetri and Rohit as Bengaluru FC looks to find a lead after getting level, following an equaliser by Diamantakos.

KBFC looks to have found new life after the equaliser with runs along the wings. Timely crosses and that, along with cheers from the crowd looks to force errors by Bengaluru FC.

Hormipam’s cross, after an odd bounce, is headed into the net by Diamantakos as Kerala Blasters finds its equaliser.

The match resumes after a quick cooling break and Udanta is off flying. He dribbles past two defenders and then passes to Krishna for a finish. However, the forward was at an offside position when the ball was played and the linesman raises the flag to stop the play.

Saurav, Rahul are replaced by Niham and Aimen as Kerala Blasters looks for answers from fresh legs to get a goal, an equaliser, in this derby.

The scoreline in both Group A matches remain unchanged with Bengaluru sitting comfortably on top. If it stays like this, the Blues will be into yet another semifinal - their third this season.

Rohit tries a run along the left flank , beats Jeakson but is surrounded by white shirts as KBFC has men in numbers in its half to deny a second to Grayson’s side.

A defensive error by Namgyal sees Rahul get to the ball. He tries a shot on goal but no force on his strike sees Gurpreet make another easy save.

BFC attacks on the counter with Chhetri and Udanta off in the KBFC half. Chhetri crosses for Udanta but KBFC interceots just before it reaches the winger to clear the ball.

KBFC comes very close to scoring with Diamantakos’ cross falling beyong the BFC defence and Nishu shoots on target. Gurpreet somehow gets a glove on it to save it.

Giannou gets the ball in th midfield and he, beats his marker Bruno and then shoots on target. Gurpreet makes a regulation save to keep BFC ahead.

Hormipan delivers a through ball for Giannou but Jhingan gets to the ball first and makes sure to clear it out of danger, away from the forward.

Udanta Singh is being tightly marked by Nishu Kumar but BFC has still dominated the attack so far in the match. KBFC might be missing Ivan and Luna, two of its pivots for starting attacks in the ISL.

Saurav tries to dance through the BFC defenders, delivers a through ball which fails to beat Namgyal Bhutia and KBFC continues to look for the equaliser.

Danish, Saheef replaced by Jeakson and Hormipam

Roshan delivers a low cross from the right for Chhetri but Leskovic clears it with a fancy volley and the home crowd cheers the move with applause.

Another KBFC corner, another clearance by Jhingan. The ex-Kerala Blasters man is looking desperate to prove himself in front of his former team.

Krishna gets the ball along the right side of the midfield and he crosses for Chhetri who is waiting in t he box. Sunil Chhetri jumps to get his head on the ball but Sachin meets his header wuth eqal quality to save it.

Victor Mongil and Diamantakos get together for the kick and the latter takes it with Gurpreet making a great reflex save to deny an equaliser for the local team.

Kerala Blasters makes a lightning switch in attack with Vibin stealing the ball off BFC and delivering a long ball for Saurav. His shot is saved for a KBFC corner kick. Rahul tries to get his head to the ball after the free-kick is headed out of the box and a foul on him gives KBFC a free-kick at the edge of the box.

KBFC starts an attack with Vibin getting the ball into the final third. Jhingan makes timely run to get to the ball first and clear it out of danger.

Amid mexican waves going on in the stadium, the players walk out for the second half. Diamantakos gets the ball rolling for Kerala Blasters from right to left.

Krishna’s goal separates the two sides at the midway mark with Simon Grayson’s side in the driving seat to make it to the Super Cup semifinals, as things stand so far.

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Udanta makes a darting run along the right flank and Roshan follows, with a run along the left flank and cuts in to the centr. Udanta crosses for him but Roshan misses it as BFC fails to capitalise on another chance to double the lead.

Seconds later, Vibin shoots from distance, forcing Gurpreet to make a good save, after which Jhingan comes to clear the ball away. The India international looks to have picked up an injury but is back on his feet after medical assistance.

Roy Krishna’s late challenge on a KBFC defender is penalised with a yellow card to the cheers of the local fans. Meanwhile, Punjab has scored against Sreenidi, which means BFC is in te driving seat to qualify for the Super Cup.

Kerala Blasters had denied an opener in the ISL playoff they played last time. But this time, Krishna’s strike looks to have forced them to go into half-time, trailing.

Though the free-kick comes to nothing, Javi tries a shot right from outside the box. Once blocked, he goes once again and this time, the ball flies wide off-target.

Roy Krishna gets the ball in the midfield and tries to run into the KBFC box. He is , however, brought down by Leskovic for a BFC free-kick.

Bengaluru FC attack with a long ball for Udanta along the right flank. He runs in with Chhetri waiting in the centre, but his cross is ust too square and Leskovic clears it.

Udanta wins the ball in the midfield, passes to Bruno but KBFC gets the ball back and marches up the pitch. However, Leskovic looks to have picked up some injury after a shove by mistake by teammate Nishu. He is attended by the medical team of KBFC and he gets back on the field eventually.

Leskovic and Krishna get into a duel for the ball and the Croat pulls the Fijian down as the forward goes down wreathing in pain. He, after some medical assistance, is back on his feet.

Bengaluru FC attacks on the counter with Chhetri getting the ball in the KBFC box. Since he is surrounded by the KBFC players, he passes it to Krishna who shoots on the volley. But Kerala Blasters makes a crucial block.

Giannou tries to get to the ball along the right flank, but he is surrounded by blue shirts and Roshan makes sure that the forward does not get to take control of the ball.

At this moment, if the scores remains as it is now, with Sreenidi Deccan 0-0 against RoundGlass Punjab, it will be BFC that will make its way into the Super Cup semifinal.

A crucial goal by Roy Krishna keeps the visitor ahead with the striker finding his 10th goal of the season with the Blues.

Bruno is running up the pitch as it looks like he has been assigned the job to mark Diamantakos. The BFC defender fouls the KBFC striker and then KBFC starts on the attack again Diamantakos gets the ball along the left flank, from the free-kick , and his cross is just missed by Saurav.

Vibin, the Santosh Trophy 2022 winner with Kerala, tries a shot from distance, but the lofted strike flies just off-target as KBFC looks for an equaliser.

BFC attacks on the counter with Javi delivering a through ball for Roy Krishna who runs into the box. His shot, first saves is sent in again by him and this time Victor Mongil can only shoot it into his own net.

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Bengaluru FC is looking to shift to Grayson’s favouritte 3-5-2 shape with Jhingan delivering long balls for attacks along the flanks.

Udanta starts an attack aling the right flank, passes it to the centre and Sunil and Roy Krishna combine from here to get the ball in the final third. Krishna’s through ball almost reaches Chhetri but Sachin intercepts just on time.

KBFC continues to attack again and again with Rahul KP starting an attack on the counter. Bruno gets to the youngster and finally the attack fizzles out but the local fans are keeping the stadium roaring with cheers for the local lad.

BFC’s long ball is intercepted by KBFC and Saurav Mandal tries a shoy after carrying the ball in the final third. Gurpreet saves it but fails to get a grip on it. Rohit gets to it eventually and as he tries to clear the ball. Danish fouls him for a free-kick.

Kerala Blasters attacks on the counter with Saurav carrying the ball along the right flank. He beats his marker and crosses for Rahul who was running into the centre. Rahul misses it but Saheef follows up to the ball. However, BFC clears the cross that Saheef delivers.

Roshan takes the resukting corner and Jhingan tries a header which flies miles over the net and BFC continues to put pressure on Kerala Blasters.

Sunil Chhetri steps up to take a free kick after a rash challenge by KBFC. But Javi takes the free-kick as a left-footed curler which goes out of play after a touch off the wall.

Roshan makes a frail attempt to find the net with a long-ranger but the ball bounces in front of KBFC goalie Sachin as he grabs it easily.

Diamantakos is sandwiched between two BFC defenders with Suresh cearing it out of danger. Grayson’s side has looked defensively strong so far.

Javi looks to start an attack from the midfield with a run in the middle of the park but BFC soon loses the ball and KBFC starts the attack o the counter. Diamantakos barges into the box, tries a cross which is cleared by Rohit.

Diamantakos tries to attack with a long ball delivered towards him but Jhingan comes in his way and earns a free-kick to nip that development in the bud.

Bengaluru FC is enjoying early possession as it looks to maintain control and attack with slow build-up.

The Hero Super Cup match between Kerala Blasters and Bengaluru FC is underway in Kozhikode. KBFC starts in white from left to right while BFC starts in blue from the other end.

The players are on the field, the formalities are done and just minutes remain in what promises to be an exciting contest between arch-rivals.

I think it’s always a good contest between the two teams. Pleayers look forward to such matches and for sure, we want to win the match.

Bengaluru FC has made just two changes from its previous game, a victory over RoundGlass Punjab, wherein Roy Krishna and Udanta Singh start in attack.

Kerala Blasters, on the other hand, has made seven changes to the starting team that lost to Sreenidi Deccan. Giannou, Mongil, Danish, Saheef, Saurav and Vibin all get the chance to help KBFC in what is its last bid to make it to the semifinal.

The first-ever Indian Super League knockout match didn’t deserve the finish it got. ​Kerala Blasters, ​led by its coach Ivan Vukomanovic, walked off the pitch protesting an extra-time goal scored by Bengaluru FC’s Sunil Chhetri, and thus ended up forfeiting the tie.

The 1-0 scoreline at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Friday sent BFC through to the semifinal where it will face Mumbai City FC.

In the 97th minute, Chhetri took a free-kick early, even as the Blasters players were making up their minds about the wall, and the ball soared into the unguarded net, over goalie Prabhsukhan Singh Gill.

Even as the home faithful went into raptures, the miffed Blasters players chose to protest in the least desirable way. There were parleys for about 20 minutes, before the Match Commissioner handed BFC the game.

The Southern derby brings with itself its own share of controversies and results. The two teams after meeting for the first time since the ISL play-off clash at the Kanteerava Stadium.

Played: 13 | Bengaluru FC wins: 8 | Draws: 2 | Kerala Blasters wins: 3

Bengaluru FC: Sandhu (GK); Bruno, Jhingan, Namgyal, Roshan; Javi, Suresh, Rohit; Sivasakthi, Krishna, Chhetri

Kerala Blasters: Sachin (GK), Saheef, Danish, Vibin, Nishu, Dimi, Rahul, Mongil, Leskovic, Saurav, Giannou

Bengaluru FC’s quest for a spot in the 2023 Super Cup semifinal reaches a crucial juncture, when the Blues face Kerala Blasters in their final Group A encounter at the EMS Corporation Stadium, in Kozhikode, on Sunday.

The clash, which will be played in parallel with the other Group A match between RoundGlass Punjab and Sreenidi Deccan, pits a three-way battle between the Blues, the Blasters and Sreenidi that will determine which side makes it through to the semifinals.

“It was nice to get the win and the clean sheet in the last game. But the focus firmly remains on what we need to do to win the next game. The significance of the game on Sunday makes it a massive game for us,” said Bengaluru FC Head Coach Simon Grayson, ahead of Sunday’s encounter.

The two sides come into Sunday’s game on the back of contrasting results. Bengaluru posted its first win of the tournament with a 2-0 win against RoundGlass Punjab, whereas the Men in Yellow lost to Deccan by the same scoreline.

Where will the Bengaluru FC vs Kerala Blasters Super Cup 2023 match be played?

The Bengaluru FC vs Kerala Blasters Super Cup 2023 match will be played at the EMS Corporation Stadium in Kozhikode.

At what time will the Bengaluru FC vs Kerala Blasters Super Cup 2023 match kick-off?

The Bengaluru FC vs Kerala Blasters Super Cup 2023 match will kick-off at 8.30 PM IST on Thursday, April 16.

Where will the Bengaluru FC vs Kerala Blasters Super Cup 2023 match be live telecasted?

The Bengaluru FC vs Kerala Blasters Super Cup 2023 match will be live telecasted on the Sony Ten network.

How do I watch the live streaming of the Bengaluru FC vs Kerala Blasters Super Cup 2023 match?

The Bengaluru FC vs Kerala Blasters Super Cup 2023 match will be streamed live on the Fancode App and Website.