Representational Image. Pic Courtesy/iStock
Kerala Blasters FC and NorthEast United FC engaged in a breathtaking 1-1 draw in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday. The tightly contested match saw both teams leaving it all on the field as they vied for victory in front of an animated crowd.
Alaeddine Ajaraie’s goal from a freekick was met with a stunning equalizer by Noah Sadaoui, resulting in both teams sharing the spoils. Right from the kickoff, the match was characterized by its high intensity, with end-to-end football played by both sides. Kerala Blasters FC, however, looked slightly more dominant in the early exchanges, led by their dynamic attackers like Sadaoui, Jesus Jimenez, and Danish Farooq.
Kerala Blasters FC nearly secured an early breakthrough when their Moroccan ace lost his marker and sprinted down the left flank to deliver a precise ball to Danish Farooq in the box. Despite the perfect setup, Farooq couldn’t connect with the ball, letting slip a golden opportunity with only the goalkeeper standing in his way.
Sadaoui was relentless, continuing to press for the opening goal. He showcased his skill by dropping a shoulder and launching a powerful shot from outside the box, only to see it skim narrowly past the upper corner. As the game wore on, the momentum began to favor NorthEast United FC. Jithin MS’s energetic run culminated in a pass to Guillermo Fernandez, who found himself one-on-one with the Blasters’ keeper, Sachin Suresh. Unfortunately for the Highlanders, Suresh was equal to the task, saving Fernandez’s shot, which then brushed the sidenetting.
Minutes later, the combination play between Guillermo and Ajaraei nearly bore fruit. Ajaraei unleashed a low-driven shot that forced another top-notch save from Sachin Suresh, the ball clipping the post on its way out.
The second half witnessed Kerala Blasters FC making an attacking substitution, with coach Mikael Stahre introducing Kwame Peprah in place of Alexandre Coeff to inject more efficiency into their forward line. The Blasters started the half aggressively, with Rahul KP becoming more involved and creating chances.
One of the most notable moments came from a deflected freekick by Vibin Mohanan that fell right into the path of Rahul KP inside the penalty area.
. However, Rahul’s effort didn’t challenge Gurmeet Singh, the NorthEast United FC goalkeeper.
The Highlanders capitalized on their opportunities and made the breakthrough in the 58th minute. Ajaraei’s freekick seemed routine, but Suresh mishandled the ball, allowing it to cross the line and giving NorthEast United FC a 1-0 lead.
Despite going behind, Kerala Blasters FC did not relent. Sadaoui’s spirited runs continued to wreak havoc in the Highlanders’ defense. Their perseverance paid off in the 67th minute. Substitute Mohammed Aimen released Sadaoui just outside the box. The Moroccan weaved past several defenders before shooting into the bottom left corner, leveling the scores and leaving Singh with no chance.
The intensity of the game escalated further, culminating in a significant event in the 82nd minute when NorthEast United’s Asheer Akhtar was shown a red card for a hard tackle on Sadaoui. Reduced to ten men, the Highlanders faced mounting pressure from Kerala Blasters FC. Aimen almost exploited the numerical advantage by coming close to scoring twice in rapid succession; however, one notable effort was thwarted brilliantly by a last-ditch tackle from Michel Zabaco.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, NorthEast United FC managed to hold on till the final whistle, with their defense standing strong against the relentless onslaught from the Blasters. The match concluded 1-1, a result that reflected the tenacity and fighting spirit displayed by both teams.
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