New Coach, New Energy
Under head coach David Catala, the Blasters looked organised and refreshed. Jesus Jimenez and Noah Sadaoui scored to seal a confident win.
Tactical Setups
East Bengal’s coach Oscar Bruzon used a back-three system. He placed PV Vishnu and Mohammad Rakip as wing-backs. Meanwhile, Catala gave Adrian Luna a central role. Danish Farooq supported striker Jimenez.
Early Chances on Both Ends
Blasters started strong. In the 2nd minute, Sadaoui set up Jimenez, but the striker missed. In response, East Bengal came close in the 7th minute when Celis nearly scored after a pass from Diamantakos.
Penalty Breaks the Deadlock
As the game slowed, Kerala kept pressing. In the 34th minute, Sadaoui created another chance, but Jimenez shot over. Then in the 40th minute, Kerala earned a penalty after Anwar Ali fouled Sadaoui. Jimenez’s first attempt was saved, but he scored on the retake, giving Kerala a 1-0 lead.
East Bengal Hit the Post
Just before halftime, East Bengal almost equalised. Vishnu’s shot hit the post, and Messi Bouli missed the rebound. Kerala led 1-0 at the break.
Changes but No Impact
To shift the game, Bruzon brought on Crespo and Nishu Kumar at halftime. Still, East Bengal couldn’t break Kerala’s strong defence.
Sadaoui Stuns with Second Goal
Even after Luna left injured around the 60th minute, Kerala kept pushing. In the 64th minute, Sadaoui scored a brilliant goal from distance. The shot hit the crossbar and bounced over the line, making it 2-0.
No Comeback for East Bengal
Despite late substitutions, East Bengal failed to create real chances. Sadaoui had one final opportunity but missed.
Quarter-Final Clash Ahead
Kerala’s win knocked out the defending champions. Now, they will face Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the quarter-finals on April 26.