East Bengal vs Kerala Blasters highlights, EBFC 1-2 KBFC, ISL 2023-24: Daisuke, Diamantakos and Cleiton Silva score, Hero Sachin saves retaken penalty

Kerala Blasters is on top of the league after a well-deserved win against East Bengal who was playing at home. EBFC had plenty of chances including a penalty that was retaken, but its captain, Cleiton Silva failed to convert. Kerala Blasters scored the second and all-important goal in the dying embers of the game after a weak and lethargic defensive play by East Bengal. The red and gold brigade should be concerned about its football as it stands 10th in the league table.

Cleiton Silva scores from the spot, third time asking, but it was the last kick of the game and EBFC loses by one goal.

EBFC given another penalty due to a handball by Sandeep.

Seven minutes given as stoppage time. Does EBFC have any magic left in it?

Diamantakos removes his shirt to celebrate but is given his second yellow card and is sent off the pitch.

Diamantakos scores the second goal for KBFC after a strong left-foot finisht. EBFC makes a horrible mistake in the box and give the ball away to the striker in front of an open goal.

Incredible drama unfolded in a matter of seconds. Cleiton Silva, EBFC’s captain has squandered two penalty chances. EBFC crowd has gone silent in shock.

Cleiton Silva takes it again and is denied again by the heroics of Sachin Suresh!

Cleiton Silva takes the penalty but it is SAVED by Sachin Suresh. However, the ref says Sachin came off the line and hence the penalty is to be retaken.

Sachin Suresh charges in to get the ball but trips and takes out Mahesh instead inside the box.

Borja is subbed in to create more chances and get the equaliser.

Rahul KP comes in for Peprah

Final fifteen minutes to go and KBFC is ahead as things stand. The red and gold brigades need to give it their all in the last stint of this game if it wants to walk out of the field with any points tonight.

Daisuke makes a cut and crosses the ball to Diamantakos but the ball is cleared for a corner.

Mahesh puts the ball again inside the box but both Cleiton Silva and Siverio fail to head the ball. Chance wasted for EBFC.

EBFC plays around the box and makes a cross but the ball is deflected and goes out for a corner. The corner is puched out by KBFC’s Sachin.

Adrian Luna plays the ball wide to Sandeep who makes the run and takes a good shot saved by EBFC’s Gill, who has had a decent game so far.

EBFC’s Mahesh makes a pin-point cross to Siverio who heads the ball strong just misses the goal. Siverio hasn’t scored a goal in his last 12 games and is desperatley looking to get on the scresheet.

EBFC had a good chance with quick transititon play. Cleiton Silva passes the ball into the box for Siverio but the ball reaches Mahesh who made a beautiful run in and does everything right except the final finish. EBFC are playing a lot better and closing in on goal.

EBFC is holding more of the ball this half and seems like taking it slow.

Siverio throws the ball onto Hormipam’s head from a throw in in frustration. But Hormipam gets a yellow for lashing out on the field.

EBFC needs to do more while KBFC will look to incearse its lead away from home.

KBFC walks out at half-time ahead and head held high. EBFC on the other hand, needs to do better in front of its home fans. Both sides are creating chances but EBFC is yet to make that defining pass to set its strikers up for a goal. The home side needs to change some things in the drawing board.

Both sides are playing end-to-end but neither is able to make the breakthrough on goal. EBFC seems dejected after conceding first.

The ref adds four minutes of added time to play in the first half.

Khabra takes a good long shot but narrowly wide. EBFC is finally attacking well and getting closer to scoring the leveller.

EBFC gets in a good position and makes couple of passes inside the box but one of the passes meets KBFC’s clearance.

Its been a rough game with eight fouls comitted already and four yellow cards awarded.

EBFC is giving away possession easily in the mid-field.

Peprah makes a run and receives a long ball but it goes in the hands of Gill, EBFC’s keeper.

KBFC scores its first first-half goal of the season. It comes close to get its second but the goal is disallowed due to off-side.

KBFC breaks on the counter, Adrian Luna plays a through and finds Daisuke who does a step-over and finishes the ball past the keeper in the top right corner.

EBFC gets a corner. It plays a beautiful set-piece routine and Siverio takes a shot on goal at the end but is caught off-side.

Already the fourth yellow of the game. Pritam makes a hard tackle that misses the ball completely.

Yellow card to KBFC’s Khabra for elbowing and stamping Adrian Luna.

KBFC is playing well but when it comes to its final third passing and runs, there seems to be something missing. It needs to make a good attempt on goal in these next few moments.

Its been an evenly matched contest so far with both sides making ample scoring opportunities. Only a matter of time till we see the opening goal.

KBFC takes a corner but cleared by EBFC. Mahesh broke into the counter but Blasters made a quick fall back and defended its defensive third.

Mahes puts a good ball to Nandha on the far post but the ball bounced off his touch for a goal-kick.

Danish Farooq gets a yellow for KBFC for stamping an EBFC player on the thigh.

KBFC are trying to attack on wings and cross the ball in but its last pass in front of goal needs to be better. EBFC on the other hand is relying on counters and is being more central in its attack.

Peprah gets the ball in a good position for KBFC but his cross to Daisuke had too much power.

KBFC takes a corner but straight into the keeper’s gloves. EBFC breaks on counter but misplaces a pass and loses all of its momentum.

Peprah takes a shot for KBFC but far wide.

KBFC puts a cross in from the right flank but Peprah misses to head the ball by inches. EBFC’s Mahesh got the ball at the edge of the box but KBFC’s Pritam Kotal bocks it.

Blasters hold possesion and it looks like EBFC want to play on counters.

Let’s Football!

East Bengal faithfuls have turned up in huge numbers to support their struggling side against strong and formidable Kerala Blasters.

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East Bengal will be looking to end its two-match losing run when it hosts the southern powerhouse Kerala Blasters in an ISL-10 fixture at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday.

Looking to refresh its search for a top half finish after three seasons of forgettable performances, East Bengal has managed to net four points from its first two matches.

But its luck ran out in the next two rounds where it lost visiting last year’s runner-up Bengaluru FC before going down against FC Goa at Bhubaneswar, where its last home match was shifted.

The last two outings have been painful for Carles Cuadrat coached East Bengal as it gave away a one-goal lead to lose the matches 2-1.

The Blasters have been doing comparatively better as it won three of its first five games to be in the fourth spot in the current standings with 10 points. This will be its second away outing after having lost the first one against Mumbai City FC 2-1 at the latter’s home.

The last time two teams met in the tournament East Bengal managed to beat Blasters by a solitary goal (on February 3, 2023). This will be giving the home side some hope but it needs to bring up a strong performance if it looks to repeat the result against in-form Blasters.