Kerala Blasters vs Punjab FC highlights, Durand Cup 2024: KBFC 1-1 PFC; Majcen and Aimen score in tight contest

KBFC continues on top of group c with that 1-1 draw against Punjab FC. KBFC enjoyed more of the ball. KBFC had 12 shots but only three were on target which would be concerning for KBFC. Punjab on the other hand must be happy with their overall performance and the shared spoils.

Luna takes the free-kick and almost kisses the crossbar after a slight fingertip by the keeper.

Big free-kick for KBFC as Aimen is brought down from behind by PFC’s Filip while on the attack at the edge of the box.

Punjab is holding the ball at the moment and has looked better in the second-half. They are trying to launch long ball in from behind for their striker but it hasn’t clicked so far. KBFC would be hoping to do better and make a last push in this match looking for a winner.

Both sides have mellowed down the attacks again. With ten minutes left in regulation time, both sides are tied on the scoresheet. Punjab is doing well in the build-up but KBFC’s defence is stopping them from entering the final third.

Peprah beats his marker and plays it back into the middle of the box for Noah but Punjab’s backline handles the situation well and launches a counter instead. Majcen is played a through as he pushes high and tries to play a cut-back into the box but wins a corner instead. 

Newly subbed in Ninthoi created an amazing chance for Punjab FC as he plays a good one-two with Filip. In the end Filip gets the ball inside the box but he too failed to beat the LBFC keeper.

Big chance for Punjab goes begging. Majcen chests the ball down inside the box but his finish is stopped by the keeper who was off his line. Leon got the ball on the rebound but he couldn’t create a chance from a dangerous position.

Majcen takes a shot from afar, takes a deflection for a corner. Nihal takes it but puts too much power into it, the ball runs away out of bounds.

Luna plays it to Peprah on the left who makes a cutting pass across goal cutting the PFC defence and finding Aimen on the far post completely unmarked who tapped it in with ease.

Noah backheels a through ball for Peprah inside the box but he fails to take a shot in time.

KBFC with another attack as Noah and Luna stitch a one-two inside the box as Luna takes a shot towards the near post from the left but the keeper saves it!

Luna takes another free-kick as the ball slow drifts in the air towards the far post but a strong headed clearance by Punjab FC.

Luna crosses the ball in from the left off of a free-kick as the ball lands to Pritam but his finish goes over the post.

KBFC has started the second half strong launching an attack straight away as the Blasters find themselves trailing with 45 minutes left on the clock.

Punjab FC was sitting deep the whole box with KBFC looking more dominant in every department, however, Luka’s goal just before half-time has given PFC a crucial goal as both teams regroup at half-time.

Majcen makes a run into the box beating the offside trap as he is fed a long ball from Nikhil which is met by a simple finish past the keeper.

2 minutes added on.

Noah threads the ball ahead for Peprah who uses his pace to outrun the right back for Punjab and win a corner.

Leon dinks the ball into the box for Luka inside the KBFC box but puts a little too much power into it as the ball goes over and is headed away by KBFC’s defender.

Freddy almost scored the goal of the tournament as he takes a shot from 40 yards, packed with power but the ball strikes the crossbar with the keeper left watching the ball. 

Peprah wins the ball in a dangerous position as he plays it to Luna who passes it on to Noah on the left who’s shot is blocked by the PFC backline.

This time Punjab’s Nihal dribbles into the box from the right and launches a shot towards the near post but saved by the KBFC keeper with ease.

Punjab FC tries to build on the right wing as Leon and Luka try to stitch up a string of passes but KBFC stops them in their tracks. Moments later a long ball is launched from the left as Luka sets it up high and tries an acrobatic attempt on goal but fluffs the connection, easy for the keeper to catch.

Luka was through on goal with just one defender to beat but he takes too much time to unleash a shot. He even had an option to pass it to the un-marked right winger but the ball is stolen away from Luka at the edge of the box with a crucial tackle.

A repeating trend in KBFC’s attacks. Noah gets the ball on the left wing as he drifts wide and crosses it in towards the far post looking for a header. Although it hasn’t been fruitful so far, it only takes one moment to get a goal.

Noah plays it inside the box for Luna but the ball goes away to Yoihenba who tries to play it to Luna again inside the box but the skipper fails to reach it in time, ball runs away to the keeper instead.

Yoihenba is played a long ball on the right wing as he tries to hold the ball and wins a corner. Luna takes it as Drincic tries to deflect the ball into the goal but over the crossbar.

KBFC is pushing ahead in numbers but Punjab is parking the bust at the moment and operating on counterattacks. Noah tries to slot a cross in from the left onto the far post for Peprah but keeper comes to the rescue.

Noah works his magic on the left wing, beats his man, but his cross went straight into the keeper’s gloves.

Noah breaks into an attack as he plays it to Luna who passes it to Yoihenba but his long ball is intercepted. Punjab now has a corner instead but it was cleared away with a header.

Luka Majcen is now up and running.

Nihal crosses the ball in the box for Luka from a long free-kick but the keeper comes out and punches it to safety. Luka is down right now due to a collision.

The game is being contested in the middle of the park at the moment as both teams are yet to make a an attack on goal. KBFC is trying to play down the middle at the moment but Punjab is trying to use the flanks.

Both teams have won their first games and will be hoping to build on the momentum in this critical Group Stage clash.

You can watch Kerala Blasters vs Punjab FC LIVE telecast on the Sony Sports Network’s Sony Sports 2 channel, and the LIVE stream on the Sony LIV platform. Moreover, you can follow Sportstar for all the LIVE updates from the match.

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Kerala Blasters is set to face Punjab FC in its second Group C match of Durand Cup 2024 on August 4, 4 PM IST at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.

The Blasters started its campaign strong after it defeated Mumbai City 8-0 to record the club’s biggest ever win and equalled the historic competition’s biggest margin in a victory.

Having made its debut in this tournament only in 2021, Kerala Blasters would be hoping to be just the third club from Kerala to clinch the Durand Cup, joining the likes of defunct FC Kochin and Gokulam Kerala.

Punjab FC too started the tournament with a dominant 3-0 win against CISF Protectors but will face a KBFC side heavily dominant on paper, especially with the new addition of Noah Sadaoui.