An enthralling encounter. While the game rolled on for 90 minutes, in the end, it was decided by a 10-minute cameo from Ivan Kalyuzhnyi. Adrian Luna gave KBFC the much-needed lead in the 72nd minute, however, East Bengal were still in the game. But the introduction of the Ukrainian midfielder changed the course of the match. Ivan scored with his very first touch as a made dazzling run past Stephen Constantine's side.
Although Alex Lima pulled a goal back for EB, Ivan almost immediately thumped home an absolute stunner to seal the match with his second of the night. The sea of Yellow sunk the Red and Gold Brigade as the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium erupted in elation.
That's the end of the coverage from us here at Sportskeeda. This is Sayantan, and I hope to see you tune in for tomorrow's clash between Bengaluru FC and NorthEast United FC.
90+4' FULL TIME: Kerala Blasters 3-1 East Bengal
90+3' Emotions are once again going off in the middle as Rahul KP and Jerry Lalrinzuala have a go at each other!
90' Four minutes have been added on.
89' Kalyuzhnyi cannot stop scoring!
The game has evolved into a bizarre end-to-end encounter as Ivan drills one from outside the box to beat a helpless Kamaljit Singh. East Bengal are stunned and so are the KBFC fans. That is some introduction for Kalyuzhnyi.
88' GOAL FOR EAST BENGAL!
Alex Lima pulls back a goal for the Red and Gold Brigade as thumps home a loose ball from inside the opposition box.
82' WELCOME TO THE ISL, IVAN KALYUZHNYI!
TheUkrainian midfielder dances past the entirety of the East Bengal defense before scoring an absolute stunner!
80' Substitutions for Kerala Blasters: Bidyashagar and Ivan come on for Puitea and Giannou.
80' Substitutions for East Bengal: Charalambos Kyriakou replaced by Eliandro while Amarjit Singh comes on for Souvik.
77' The Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium is buzzing and East Bengal are visibly sinking in the sea of Yellow!
72' GOOOAALLL!
Harmanjot Singh Khabra delivers a peach of a ball from the halfway line to find Luna, who sneaks past a static East Bengal defense. The Uruguayan tucks it into the goal with his first touch and sets off on an emotional celebration. The first goal of the ISL 2022-23 season is finally here!
71' Substitution for Kerala Blasters: Rahul KP on for Sahal Abdul Samad.
69' East Bengal get a few passes together in the opposition half and Alex Lima does well to set up Souvik Chakraborty. However, the former Hyderabad FC man scuffs his effort high and wide.
63' Yellow card for Aniket Mukherjee for his challenge on Adrian Luna.
60' Substitution for East Bengal: Semboi Haokip replaces VP Suhair.
60' Lalchungnunga receives the first yellow card of the season for bringing down Diamantakos.
58' Puitea makes a wavy run into the East Bengal half before setting up Giannou on the edge of the box. However, the No. 99 yet again fails to hit the mark with his effort.
54' KAMALJIT YET AGAIN TO THE RESCUE!
Ivan Gonzalez gives away the ball cheaply in his own half and Giannou latches on to the ball and whips in a cross for Adrian Luna. The Uruguayan midfielder's effort from the far post it parried away by the East Bengal keeper.
50' INCREDIBLE SAVE!
Apostolos Giannou does well to outmuscle his marker and unleashes a volley from inside the box. However, Kamaljit steps up to the occasion and makes a flying save to keep the ball out of the net.
48' CORNER! Puitea delivers it from the right flank but Kamaljit Singh does well to punch it away.
46' SECOND-HALF UNDERWAY!
East Bengal sets the ball rolling for the second 45 minutes.
It's the end of the first 45 minutes and Kerala Blasters have clearly been the better team. They have created ample chances but lacked clinical finishing. East Bengal, however, are still very much in the game. They have enjoyed some odd chances and also managed to maintain parity. Let's sit back and watch how the second half unravels!
43' Luna steps up to take the freekick and his effort swerves a little to unsettle Kamaljit Singh in the goal. However, the EB shot-stopper just manages to keep the ball out of the net.
42' FREE-KICK! Adrian Luna was brought down outside the opposition box by Alex Lima and Kerala Blasters have a freekick.
32' A rare attack from East Bengal, as their forwards combine in the opposition half. Tuhin Das receives the ball just outside KBFC's box but his effort flies high and wide.
29' Tempers are flaring as players from both camps are part of a commotion in the middle.
26' CLOSEEE! Lovely footwork from Sahal, who switched to the right flank, as he dribbled past a couple of defenders before playing the ball to Puitea. The latter, in acres of space, unleashed a power shot from outside the box but the effort flew high and wide.
21' East Bengal's right flank has looked massively rusty with both Ankit Mukherjee and Sumeet Passi lacking the attacking prowess to pin back the Kerala Blasters FC forwards.
18' East Bengal's backline looks shaky! Sahal Abdul Samad is set through down the right flank, however, his cutback is expertly cleared away by Ankit Mukherjee.
14' FOUL! Leskovic brings down Alex Lima in the opposition half. However, the referee has kept his hands out of his pockets.
10' CHANCE! Aniket Mukherjee clumsily gives the ball away in his own half and Jessel Carneiro whips a neat cross for Giannou, whose effort flies wide. It was a real opportunity for Kerala Blasters to take the lead.
8' SAVE! Alex Lima with another crucial interception in the middle of the park creates an attack out of nothing for East Bengal. He dances past two KBFC defenders before firing a deadly effort into the far corner. But Gill is up to the task as he parries it wide.
6' A delicious corner from Adrian Luna and he finds Leskovic in the far post. However, the latter failed to keep his header into the frame of the net.
4' Puitea sets up Jessel with a beautiful ball down the left flank, however, the full-back fails to put in a threatening cross.
3' Alex Lima wins the ball in the middle of the park for East Bengal and releases VP Suhair. However, the former NEUFC forward fails to get the desired touch and can only win a corner.
1' KICK-OFF! Kerala Blasters set the ball in motion and ushers in the ninth edition of the Indian Super League.
We're 10 minutes away from kick-off and the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium is overflowing with the sea of Yellow. ISL is well and truly back!
EAST BENGAL XI: Kamaljit Singh (GK), Ankit Mukherjee, Lalchungnunga, Ivan Gonzalez, Charis Kyriakou, Tuhin Das, Souvik Chakrabarti, Alex Lima, Suhair VP, Sumeet Passi, Cleiton Silva (C).
KERALA BLASTERS FC XI: Prabhsukhan Gill (GK), Harmanjot Khabra, Marko Leskovic, Ruivah Hormipam, Jessel Carneiro (C), Lalthathanga Khawlhring, Sahal Samad, Adrian Luna, Jeakson Singh, Apostolos Giannou, Dimitrios Diamantakos.
Here's how we line up for the #HeroISL season opener against the Blasters! 🔴🟡
After an inspired performance last season, Kerala Blasters faltered at the very end to lose on penalties to Hyderabad FC in the grand finale. However, the Yellow Army have done well to retain most of their core players and their fan-favorite head coach, Ivan Vukomanovic. The Blasters for the first time ever will go into a new campaign with the same head coach as the previous season.
Meanwhile, their opponents East Bengal, a footballing institution in itself, have suffered two consecutive disastrous seasons in the ISL. They will be raring to return to their glory days. New head coach Stephan Constantine is very capable of guiding that journey. The former Indian national team head coach is well aware of the intricacies of the country's footballing system.
Both teams have passionate fanbases cheering them from the stands and behind the TV screens, but who will come out on top tonight? Only time will tell!
Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the Indian Super League 2022-23 season opener between Kerala Blasters FC and East Bengal at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kochi. This is Sayantan, and I'll be taking you through what is expected to be an enticing encounter.
Although Alex Lima pulled a goal back for EB, Ivan almost immediately thumped home an absolute stunner to seal the match with his second of the night. The sea of Yellow sunk the Red and Gold Brigade as the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium erupted in elation.
That's the end of the coverage from us here at Sportskeeda. This is Sayantan, and I hope to see you tune in for tomorrow's clash between Bengaluru FC and NorthEast United FC.
The game has evolved into a bizarre end-to-end encounter as Ivan drills one from outside the box to beat a helpless Kamaljit Singh. East Bengal are stunned and so are the KBFC fans. That is some introduction for Kalyuzhnyi.
Alex Lima pulls back a goal for the Red and Gold Brigade as thumps home a loose ball from inside the opposition box.
The Ukrainian midfielder dances past the entirety of the East Bengal defense before scoring an absolute stunner!
Harmanjot Singh Khabra delivers a peach of a ball from the halfway line to find Luna, who sneaks past a static East Bengal defense. The Uruguayan tucks it into the goal with his first touch and sets off on an emotional celebration. The first goal of the ISL 2022-23 season is finally here!
Ivan Gonzalez gives away the ball cheaply in his own half and Giannou latches on to the ball and whips in a cross for Adrian Luna. The Uruguayan midfielder's effort from the far post it parried away by the East Bengal keeper.
Apostolos Giannou does well to outmuscle his marker and unleashes a volley from inside the box. However, Kamaljit steps up to the occasion and makes a flying save to keep the ball out of the net.
East Bengal sets the ball rolling for the second 45 minutes.
It's the end of the first 45 minutes and Kerala Blasters have clearly been the better team. They have created ample chances but lacked clinical finishing. East Bengal, however, are still very much in the game. They have enjoyed some odd chances and also managed to maintain parity. Let's sit back and watch how the second half unravels!
Meanwhile, their opponents East Bengal, a footballing institution in itself, have suffered two consecutive disastrous seasons in the ISL. They will be raring to return to their glory days. New head coach Stephan Constantine is very capable of guiding that journey. The former Indian national team head coach is well aware of the intricacies of the country's footballing system.
Both teams have passionate fanbases cheering them from the stands and behind the TV screens, but who will come out on top tonight? Only time will tell!