Kerala Blasters vs NorthEast United FC highlights, KBFC 1-1 NEUFC, ISL 2023-24: Nestor, Danish on the scoresheet as both teams share spoils

Kerala Blasters and NorthEast United FC split points after playing out a 1-1 draw at the Nehru Stadium in Kochi.

Booking: Rahul KP sees a yellow card late in the match

Booking: KBFC’s assistant coach Frank Dauwen is shown a yellow card for his his contact complaining. This means he will miss the next match. Fortunately for Kerala, Good thing Vukomanovic will be back.

NEUFC sub: IN- Ibson OUT- Nestor

Five minutes added at the end of the first-half.

Luna’s cross almost looks like a shot from distance and it is an easy catch for Mirshad.

KBFC subs: IN- Rahul KP, Freddy OUT- Peprah, Vibin

Pandita gets ahead of his man after a ball over the top by Danish. He twists and turns before going for a shot. He lashes at the ball and cannot keep his effort on target.

KBFC sub: IN- Pandita OUT- Diamantakos

Final drinks break in the match, with the match entering its last quarter.

Booking: Fourth yellow for NEUFC as Gogoi becomes the latest player to see yellow.

Nestor takes the freekick but hits the wall with his shot.

Jithin rolls the ball to Nestor, who takes the ball away from his marker Hormipam with a brilliant turn. Hormipam puts in a challenge and NorthEast has a freekick right at the edge of the box.

Parthib put the KBFC defence under pressure but Sachin comes a long way off his line and clears the danger. That is good decision-making from the Blasters keeper.

KBFC sub: IN- Aiman OUT- Daisuke

NEUFC sub: IN- Gani OUT- Phalguni

A slight drop in the tempo of the match but Kerala Blasters will surely push for a winner in front of its home crowd.

Kerala Blasters edging possession stats by having 58% of the ball.

Booking: Bemammer becomes the third NEUFC player to see yellow after his challenge on Adrian Luna.

Zabaco’s cross from the left finds Jithin’s head but it is not on target as Kerala gets a goalkick.

Jithin makes a good run from the right. Once inside the box, he could not decide whether to shoot or go for the cutback. The result is a disappointing touch, which allows Sachin to get the ball.

A considerable increase in the decibel level inside the Nehru Stadium. Now, it is going to challenging for NorthEast. Benali was seen asking his men to calm down after the equaliser.

Adrian Luna delivers an inch-perfect cross inside the box from a freekick and Danish Farooq got the slightest of touches to guide the ball inside the net with his head.

Nestor finds the net again, this time with a header. However, the goal won’t count as he is flagged for offside. He had made his run a bit early as the cross came in from the right.

The second-half between Kerala Blasters and NorthEast United FC is underway at the Nehru Stadium in Kochi.

A quiet end to the half as Nestor’s goal keeps NorthEast United FC in a 1-0 lead against Kerala Blasters at the break.

Four minutes added at the end of the first-half.

Diamantakos chooses power over precision as he puts his laces through the ball with a low shot. But the wall does its job and blocks the shot.

The danger is not over as Luna swings a cross inside the box from the right. Peprah almost gets to the ball at the near-post but the contact isn’t clean and the ball misses everyone. NorthEast survives for the moment.

Booking: Yaser of NEUFC sees yellow for that challenge on Peprah

Yaser Hamed brings down Peprah and Kerala Blasters has a freekick in a dangerous position.

Brilliant footwork from Nestor again to create a yard of space at the edge of the Kerala box. He goes for a curler again but this time, the ball does not dip enough and ges out for a goalkick.

Sandeep has time and space to send in a good cross from the right flank, but it is a disappointing ball and it is a simple clearance for NorthEast.

Peprah with a header at goal but he cannot keep his effort on target.

Play resumes after a drinks break!

Luna goes for a first-time floater as the Blasters work out a short corner. The ball does not find a KBFC player as it goes out of play. Kotal seemed to go down inside the box but his penalty shout was ambitious to say the least. It was a very soft one.

Yaser tugs at Peprah’s shirt as the latter goes down inside the box. There is a huge penalty shout by the players and the sea of yellow inside the stadium. But referee Harish Kundu does not agree. Kerala players are livid but no penalty.

Daisuke is played a good ball over the top. He had a chance to run at goal, but his first-touch let him down.

Booking: NEUFC’s Asheer sees a yellow card for his challenge on Diamantakos. It was a reckless tackle from behind.

Naocha pulls the trigger from distance and it is a brilliant one. Unfortunately for him and Kerala, it hits the outside of the post. Mirshad was clearly beaten by the pace and height of the shot.

Kerala has responded well to going a goal down. They do not seem fazed, which is crucial after going down. NorthEast’s defence has been excellent till now.

Kerala Blasters almost scores an equaliser. Diamantakos makes a good run on the left flank and drives in a low cross for Peprah in the middle. Peprah would have got a clear contact if not for a brilliant challenge by Zabaco.

The Blasters could not clear their lines as Jithin got the ball inside the box. He passes the ball to Nestor, who shows quick-feet to create some space for himself. He then opens up his body and places the ball at the far-corner. A brilliant goal

Kotal’s clearing header sits up nicely for Bemammer, who takes a shot from distance. But the effort is not on target, as Sachin sees the ball go out of play.

Daisuke with a lovely touch to release Danish, who had acres of green ahead of him. However, Danish’s touch was heavy, which allows Zabaco to recover possession.

A positive start for the Blasters as they press high up the pitch. As usual, no complaints about the atmosphere inside the Nehru stadium.

A heavy backpass puts Mirshad in a spot of bother as there was a risk of losing the ball with Blasters players closing in, but the NEUFC keeper recovers well to clear thee danger.

The first-half of the ISL 2023-24 clash between Kerala Blasters and NorthEast United FC is underway at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi.

NorthEast United FC’s head coach Juan Pedro Benali on Kerala Blasters: “Well, whatever we say about Kerala Blasters FC, it will be less. It’s a big team. The team is stable for the last three years, a team that plays good football. You can see the last games they had in ISL.”

“I think they deserved better (even) in the last game against Mumbai City FC. It’s a strong team. Even if they have some players injured and suspended, there will be others who come in. They will also be strong. As I said, a very stable team.”

“It will be a tough game, but very nice. Beautiful game. I hope with a nice public will be a nice evening to be in.”

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Played – 18

Kerala Blasters FC – 8

NorthEast United FC – 4

Draws – 6

Kerala Blasters FC will host NorthEast United FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Saturday.

The Blasters have had two victories and a loss in their three games until now. The Highlanders have bagged four points on the back of a win, defeat, and a draw each.

Kerala is fourth on the ISL table with six points while NorthEast United FC is fifth with four points.

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

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

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

The Kerala Blasters vs NorthEast United 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).

The game will be livestreamed on OneFootball for those watching from outside India.