Bhubaneswar: Kerala Blasters created an upset in the opening match of the 5th edition Kalinga Super Cup 2025 here at Kalinga Stadium on Sunday. In a one-sided round-16 match, the Blasters scripted a 2-0 win against defending champion East Bengal FC and entered the quarterfinals.
Both the teams started defensively. United States forward Noah Sadaoui was pulled down by East Bengal defender Anwar inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot.
EBFC goalkeeper Gill saved Jesus Jimenez’s shot but he got another chance as Gill crossed the line early. In the second attempt Jimenez made no mistake, finally Kerala Blasters opened their account in the 41st minute.
In a counter attack Vishnu hits the post after weaving past three KBFC defenders and then Messi fails to steer the ball home into an almost open net. The half-time scoreboard read as 1-0 in favour of Blasters.
After the change of sides, East Bengal created many moves, but failed to cross the defense wall of KBFC. However, a brilliant powerful strike by winger Noha made it 2-0 for Blasters in the 64th minute.
The defending champion faced a tough time to cross pass the KBFC defenders. Theis all moves went to vain as they suffered a 0-2 defeat from Kerala Blasters.
Kerala Blasters Squad: Goalkeepers; Sachin Suresh, Kamaljit Singh, Alsabith ST and Muhammed Jaseen, Defenders; Hormipam Ruivah, Bikash Yumnam, Milos Drinčić, Dušan Lagator, Naocha Singh, Aibanbha Dohling, Muhammed Saheef, Sandeep Singh, Midfielders; Vibin Mohanan, Danish Farooq, Freddy Lallawmawma, Adrián Luna, Mohammed Azhar, Yoihenba Meitei, Ebindas Yesudasan, Korou Singh, Mohammed Aimen, Renthlei Lalthanmawia, Forwards; Jesús Jiménez, Kwame Peprah, Noah Sadaoui, Ishan Pandita, Sreekuttan MS.
East Bengal FC Squad: Goalkeepers: Prabhsukhan Gill, Debjit Majumder, Aditya Patra, Gourab Shaw, Defenders: Provat Lakra, Anwar Ali, Lalchungnunga, Mohamad Rakip, Nishu Kumar, Hira Mondal, Hector Yuste, Suman Dey, Chaku Mandi, Midfielders: Jeakson Singh, Richard Celis, Nandhakumar Sekar, Saul Crespo, Souvik Chakrabarti, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Tanmay Das, Vishnu PV, Bijay Murmu, Mark Zothanpuia, Forwards: Dimi Diamantakos, David Lalhlansanga, Raphael Messi Bouli, Jesin TK
