Bengaluru FC 2-2 Kerala Blasters Highlights: 10-man KBFC draws Souther derby, gets eliminated from Durand Cup

Mohammed Aimen scored his second goal in consecutive matches as he helped KBFC earn a point in its second Durand Cup match.

A slow smooth build-up by Kerala Blasters has the grey-shirts all over the BFC half. But Bibiano Fernandes’ men keep the box clear of chances as the match looks to end as their second consecutive draw.

Luna’s corner kick is headed right on target by Pritam Kotal but Amrit still comes out on top, making a save for another corner, which is finally caught by the BFC goalie.

Bengaluru FC has all its players in its half to deny in what might just be the winning goal. Meanwhile, Justine whips in a rihght-footer on target which is punched away by Amrit.

Luna starts another attack for the Blasters, with the Uruguayan getting the to the right flank. However, teh final cross for Ishan Pandita is overshot as the development ends as a BFC goalkick.

As the match enters the second-half injury time, Gokulam Kerala would be looking at the score with joy as a draw here would seal a quarterfinal spot for the Malabarians.

Hormipam, who was already on a yellow card, fouls BFC’s forward Monirul and the referee shows him the second yellow and sends him off. KBFC is down to 10 men now.

Luna makes a run along the left flank, threads a pass through to Aimen who side-steps a marker a rattles the net with a right-footed hit.

Kerala Blasters attacks on the counter with Pandita getting the ball at the edge of the box. He is surrounded by BFC defenders as he gets the ball to his right, from where he gets a cross. Pandita heads it but fails to keep it on target.

Bengaluru FC tries a quick attack against the run of play with Monirul Molla barging into the box. He loses the ball after a soft touch from Pritam Kotal and goes down asking for a oenalty. The referee is not interseted at all and asks the player to get up.

In: Lalpekhluza, Thokchom, Out: Edmund, Ricky

Bengaluru FC is keeping the flanks in check as it looks to stop KBFC in its tracks, which is eyeing an equaliser and its first point in the Durand Cup 2023.

Kerala Blasters attacks onthe counter with Justine getting the ball in the BFC box. he dances past a number of BFC players and cuts back to his left only to earn a corner.

Kerala Blasters will be desperate to find at least an equaliser from here. The team has lost six of its first-team regulars from last season and started its domestic season with a loss to Gokulam Kerala. If the score remains this at full-time, it will be a continuation of KBFC’s poor form during its revamp for the upcoming ISL season.

In: Mohammed Aimen , Out: Danish Farooq

Luna gets a long ball up the pitch for Emmanuel Justine but the Nigerian after a gental push, goes to the ground, wreathing in pain. He has struggles to continue throughout the game so far and the medical team of KBFC takes him off the field to help him get back to his feet.

Edmund gets involved in a challenge after a challenge by Jeakson Singh as KBFC looks more and more desperate to find the equaliser first. It was the Blasters who had started the scoring. But now it is them who are behind.

As the match trudges into the hour mark, Ishan Pandita taks the pitch for his new team, Kerala Blasters. The Indian international joined KBFC from Jamshedpur FC this summer.

Another chance for Kerala! Danish gets the ball to Rahul in the BFC box, who tries a left-footed hit which misses the target by a whisker.

Danish draws defenders towards him and released Justine to pass the ball to him. The Nigerian makes a run into the box but fails to land a shot, going down quite easily. The referee is not interseted to give a penalty.

Kerala Blasters loses the ball in the midfield and BFC attacks quickly in transition with Edmund carrying the ball along the left flank. He crosses for Ashish but Shankar intercepts. As he fails to get hold of the ball, Asish turns to deceive Sachin and shoots to score the second goal for the Blues.

Kerala Blasters’ high press has forced Bengaluru FC into its own half as the grey shirts try and find a breakthrough using set-pieces. Meanwhile, Vibin tries a shot from distance for KBFC but the ball flies over the net for a goal-kick.

Meanwhile, Justine is one the ground, wreathing with pain on his back. The forward, who has score two goals in consecutive games so far, however, is quickly back on his feet.

Justine gets the ball in the BFC box but cuts back to get it to Vibin. Vibins pass to his right to Rahul KP sees the Kerala boy shoot just off-target as KBFC expresses urgency to get its lead back.

Another 45 minutes for either side to deny Gokulam Kerala a clear spot in the quarterfinals. BFC gets the ball rolling but is quickly in teh back foot with KBFC starting its counter-attack.

A goal a piece for Kerala Blasters and Bengaluru FC, with Justine and Edmund finding the net, keeps the match all square at the half-way mark in Kolkata.

Bengaluru FC attacks on the counter with Bekey making another run on the right. He crosses for Edmund but Prabir intercepts for a corner. The resulting corner has Harsh making a run into the box, beating Prabir but his final shot lands into the gloves of Sachin Suresh.

Robin Yadav takes the free-kick, which fails to find anybody in the box as Bengauluru looks to press KBFC more after the equaliser.

Kerala Blasters looks a bit sloppy in discipline after conceding the goal and Hormipam fouls Bekey to get into the book - the first booking of the match

The high-line of KBFC is punished by BFC with a long ball into the final third fpr Bekey Oram. The midfielder crosse for Edmund on his left, who shoots into the net to make it all square in Kolkata.

It looks like a training regime for Kerala Blasters so far in the game, with the side constantly testing the BFC defence and getting past it on multiple occassions. The pace of the game, however, has been slower than the Kerala derby, KBFC’s previous match.

KBFC is looking to shuffle its cards in attack, trying to take the long-ball approach. However, Amrit is there to get to the ball comfortably and end the attack.

If both the sides draw here, Gokulam Kerala would secure its qualification in the Durand Cup quarterfinals while a win for KBFC or BFC will force the contest to go into Matchday 3 to decide the group topper -- the automatic quarterfinalist.

Match resumes after a brief cooling break as Sachin Suresh gets the ball rolling for KBFC.

Luna whips in the corner kick but Amrit punches it out of danger as BFC looks to limit chances for Blasters to double the lead.

This match would be an interseting contest for Prabir Das. He won the tournament with Bengaluru FC last season and is in action against that very side today. But as professionals, he has impressed so far with KBFC.

Quick transitions, one-two and square passes -- Kerala Blasters is dominating play with switches of play. Justine gets the ball in the BFC box and he passes it to Danish, whose shot is saved by Amrit.

Bengaluru starts an attack along the left flank but its cross is intercepted and KBFC goes for an attack against the run of play. Justine marches up the pitch, beats a defender but ultimately runs out if gas as the attack fizzles out.

Kerala Blasters has spotted Bengaluru’s weakness quite well, trying to exploit the right channel with overlapping runs. They try another run but the final shot is off-target

Kerala Blasters catches the Blues napping with Harsh threading in a pass for Justine in the BFC penalty box, which is then struck into the net with a right-footed corner by the Nigerian.

Kerala Blasters goes for another attack, with Danish getting a pass to Prabir, who crosses from the right. Amrit, the BFC goalie, misses it in the air but Robin clears it away.

Luna and Prabir combine on the left with the former delivering the cross from the right and Justine gets to it with his head. But Amrit Gope’s outstretched boot saves BFC as he looks to shine on his first start in the Durand Cup 2023.

Kerala Blasters tries an attack from the left. A cross into the centre by KBFC sees the ball fall for Danish and Luna in the centre but the former fails to find an opening past his marker, having got the ball.

Kerala Blasters is maintaining a very high line at the moment with Kolkata boys Prabir Das and Pritam Kotal up the pitch to try and start a counter-attack.

Robin delivers a long ball along the right flank for Salam Johnson, who makes a run behind Hormipam to get to the ball but his final shot is just off-target.

Danish and Justine are involved in a melee with Ricky going down in the process for BFC and getting a free-kick.

Kerala Blasters gets the ball rolling and starts playing from the back with small passes. KBFC is playing from left to right while BFC starts from the other end.

Parag, the captain of Bengaluru reserves and Adrian Luna shake hands as the teams get ready for kick-off. Two changes for the Blues while Kerala Blasters have made six changes from its loss to Gokulam Kerala.

Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters have been at swords end for such a long time and this match will also be a stage to see another chapter of the same. The players walk out of the tunnel. Bengaluru FC starts in blue while Kerala Blasters starts in its grey kit.

Defending Durand Cup champion Bengaluru FC has fielded its reserve side in the tournament this time. But it will look to find its first win as it was held to a 1-1 draw against the Indian Air Force team in its opening game of the tournament.

Kerala Blasters, on the other hand, comes into the match after a defeat to rival Gokula, Kerala in its opening game. Though the Blasters tries to pull off a comeback, it was too little too late as the match ended 4-3 in Gokulam’s favour.

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Bengaluru FC will look to continue its unbeaten momentum when it faces rival Kerala Blasters in its second match of the Durand Cup 2023 at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.

The Blues comes into the game after a 1-1 draw against the Indian Air Force Football team while Kerala Blasters suffered a loss in its opening fixture against Gokulam Kerala.