KBFC 2-1 BFC highlights, ISL 2023-24: Luna strike, Veendorp own-goal guide Kerala Blasters to win against Bengaluru in opener

A goal from Adrian Luna and an own goal from Keziah Veendorp edges KBFC to a 2-1 win against BFC. Curtis Main pulled one back for BFC in the 90th minute but the Blasters held on to win the opening match of the Indian Super League 2023-24 season.

KBFC booking: Luna seems to have received a yellow card for dissent.

KBFC sub: IN- Bidyashagar OUT- Peprah

Vibin takes a shot at goal from outside the box as the BFC defence seems to have switched off. The shot is good but Gupreet finds the ball at a comfortable height and makes the save.

Kerala Blasters has a corner and the idea would be to keep it close to the corner flag for as long as possible and see out a few seconds.

Seven minutes added at the end of the second-half!

Monirul crosses in from the left, which takes a huge deflection. The ball ends up straight to Curtis Main who finds the net from close distance. Sachin had no chance to get a hand to it.

KBFC subs: IN- Mohanan, Sudeesh OUT- Farooq, Sakai

Javi goes short with his freekick, and sets up Suresh for the shot. Suresh goes for a sidefoot but ends up hitting a KBFC player. Ideally, he needed to put his laces through the ball from that distance.

Drincic seems to be in a bit of discomfort as he lies on the ground. It does not look to be anything serious. It might just a ploy to see out a few seconds.

Some top class banter as the referee points to the whistle and smiles at Luna before the latter took the freekick. This is relation to the controversy that happened when both teams met last time when Chhetri’s controversial goal led to Ivan Vukomanovic and the KBFC walking off.

KBFC sub: IN- Freddy OUT- Aimen

Ryan Williams brings down Aimen with a crunching tackle. The BFC frustration was clearly visible in that challenge. There was no attempt to win the ball at all.

There is a penalty shout from Bengaluru FC as Drincic seemed to have handled the ball inside the box. But the referee pays no attention and asks play to go on.

What has Gurpreet done there? He has gifted a goal to Luna!

Damjanovic passes the ball back to Gupreet. The BFC keeper has a heavy touch and before he knew it, the ball was away from his control. Luna was there to capitalise on the mistake and knock the ball inside the empty net.

At the other end, Peprah passes the ball to Drincic and the latter shoots at goal from the edge of the box. The ball goes straight to Gurpreet.

Parag Shrivas almost makes an impact right after coming on. He got his head to the ball from a corner and the ball almost makes his way inside the net through a crowd of bodies, Sachin pushes the ball away in the nick of time.

BFC subs: IN- Parag, Curtis, Javi OUT- Bhutia, Jovanovic, Veendorp

Luna finds Sakai and the Japanese makes a run inside the box. Sakai shoots from the right side of the box but the attempt is blocked.

Siva Sakthi shoots from distance and it is a powerful one. But Sachin sees the ball a long way and does well to hold on to it. BFC’s urgency was clear in that shot by Siva Sakthi.

Luna swings a cross insdie the box and no one from Bengaluru FC took initiative to clear the ball. Veendorp, whose body shape was all wrong, tries to get the ball away but the ball hits him and ends up inside the net for the own goal. That is a horrible way to concede.

Peprah with a venomous shot on the turn from the edge of the box. Gurpeet makes a brilliant save and tips it over the bar.

Sakai is played a ball over the top as he goes for a first-time shot from close distance. However, the assistant referee blows his whistle to signal offside. Bengaluru FC gets a freekick.

Jovanovic is getting medical attention and should be okay to continue.

Gurpreet seems to have hurt his teammate Jovanovic as both went to clear the ball from Prabir Das’ cross from the right. Das whipped a cross in and both Jovanovic and Gurpreet went for the ball. Gupreet catches Jovanvic on the calf and it was a painful one.

End to end play at the start of the second-half. Siva Sakthi’s cross reaches Suresh, who does not get a good touch. Kerala gets the ball and tries to counter. Sakai shows good feet to get away from his marker and pass to Peprah. Peprah shoots at goal but misses the target by a fair distance.

Scores level at 0-0 as the second-half kicks-off at the Nehru Stadium.

A drab half of football comes to an end and the match is goalless at the break. Stay tuned to find out what happens in the second-half.

Just one minute added at the end of the first-half.

Apart from that Sakai foul, which got the Kerala players and the fans worked up, nothing too exciting as the first half enters its last five minutes. A couple of chances here and there, but overall, the match has not lived up to the opening day hype.

Roshan attempts a curler from miles out and tries to catch out KBFC keeper Sachin, who was out of his line. The debutant keeper, however, does well and palms the ball out for a corner.

A halt in play momentarily as the players take a water break. It might have been raining but it still very humid in Kochi.

There is another penalty shout from the Kerala players as the ball is played inside the box. Drincic is brought down and he claims his shirt was pulled as he went to head the ball. The referee pays no attention to his claims.

KBFC Booking: Carneiro sees a yellow card for his foul on Sakai

Sakai gets the better of Carneiro with some quick feet and makes his way towards goal from the right. Carneiro tries to stop Sakai and ends up fouling him. The referee gives a freekick but Kerala wants a penalty.

In case you did not know, Carneiro is back at his old stomping grounds, having played for the Blasters from 2019-2023.

Luna finds Sakai on the right with a good pass. Sakai uses his pace and drags the ball to the touchline and tries to cross the ball but Damjanovic slides in to block the cross and concede a corner.

It looked like the ball had gone out for a goalkick but the referee points for a corner.

Most of the Bengaluru FC attacking is happening from the duo of Bhutia and Siva Sakthi on the right. However, there is not much happening in the final third. It has been a fairly bland display fo football till now.

The Blasters are not enjoying their early dominance on the ball. They are still having more of the ball but Bengaluru FC has also made some attacking moves inside the Blasters half.

Namgyal Bhutia slips a pass to Siva Sakthi on the right. The latter tries to find a teammate by squaring the ball to the centre but Kotal is alert enough to anticipate the cross and clear the ball to safety.

Bengaluru FC gets its first corner of the match after the Blasters clears a ball played inside its box from a BFC corner. Milos Drincic with the clearance to concede the corner.

It is pouring at the Nehru Stadium. Don’t be surprised if there is a sloppy error at the back.

The Bengaluru defence is being tested in the opening minutes of the first half as the home team is constantly making inroads into the final third and the box. No substantial chance created but Bengaluru under pressure nonetheless.

Bengaluru FC under pressure straight away and the Blasters gets a corner in the first minute of the match itself.

Nothing comes from the corner as the ball does not clear the near-post.

The ISL 2023-24 season opener between Kerala Blasters and Bengaluru FC is underway at the Nehru Stadium in Kochi.

Matches - 15

KBFC wins - 3

BFC wins - 8

Draws - 4

Six months after its controversial walkout in the playoffs, the Kerala Blasters meet Bengaluru FC again in the Indian Super League, this time in the season-opener at the Nehru Stadium here on Thursday.

And the Blasters, who suffered a heavy fine while the head coach Ivan Vukomanovic took a 10-match suspension which is not yet over, have pushed away all the bitterness from their mind.

Read full preview HERE

KBFC vs BFC, ISL 2023-24: Kerala Blasters looks to open season on a high against Bengaluru FC

The Blues’ head coach Simon Grayson will hope that new faces acclimatise seamlessly into the setup for them to have a strong start in the absence of skipper Sunil Chhetri.

KICK-OFF, TELECAST AND LIVE STREAMING INFO

When and where is the Kerala Blasters vs Bengaluru FC ISL 2023-24 match kicking-off?

The Kerala Blasters vs Bengaluru FC ISL 2023-24 match will kick-off at 8:00 PM IST, Thursday, September 21 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi.

How can you watch the Kerala Blasters vs Bengaluru FC ISL 2023-24 match in India?

The Kerala Blasters vs Bengaluru FC ISL 2023-24 match will be live telecasted on the Sports18 1 Channel (TV).

The game can also be live streamed on the JioCinema app and website (online).