Kerala Blasters FC secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Punjab FC in an ISL 2023-24 clash at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi. The game was tightly contested from the start, but it was Dimitrios Diamantakos’ penalty in the second half that proved to be the decisive goal, earning his team their sixth win of the season.
Prior to the match, much of the discussion revolved around the absence of Adrian Luna due to an injury. Alongside Luna, the Blasters faced several setbacks with players like Aibhanba Dohling, Jeakson Singh, and Danish Farooq also unavailable. On the other hand, Punjab FC was seeking their first-ever ISL victory. Despite facing challenges throughout the season, the newly promoted side has shown moments of promise in recent weeks.
Even without Luna, it was the Blasters who started the game on the front foot, with 20-year-old Mohammed Aimen hitting the woodwork as early as the second minute. This early chance set the tone for the match, with the visitors dominating possession and pushing Punjab FC back. However, despite their territorial control, the Blasters struggled to create clear-cut chances in the final third, partly due to Punjab FC’s solid defensive organization.
As the first half drew to a close, both sides found it difficult to create meaningful opportunities, with neither team managing a shot on target.
The second half began similarly to the first, but this time, the Blasters were able to break through Punjab FC’s defense and find the back of the net. Aimen was brought down in the penalty area by Khaiminthang Lhungdim, and the referee awarded a penalty without hesitation. Diamantakos stepped up and calmly converted the spot-kick, giving his team the lead.
Continuing their dominance, the Blasters came close to doubling their lead around the hour mark, hitting the woodwork twice in quick succession. Vibin Mohanan’s curling free-kick from 25 yards beat the goalkeeper but struck the post, followed by Marko Leskovic’s looping header from the rebound, which narrowly missed the target.
Trailing by a goal, Punjab FC pushed forward in the final quarter of the game, with head coach Staikos Vergitis introducing Colombian striker Wilmar Jordan Gil to partner Luka Majcen in search of an equalizer. However, the Blasters’ defense remained resolute, securing all three points and bringing them level on points with league leaders FC Goa.
On the other hand, Punjab FC stayed rooted at the bottom half of the table and extended their winless run in the ISL. While they have demonstrated their ability to compete against top-tier teams, the Shers have struggled to make an impact in the final third. However, the return of Jordan Gil should provide a positive boost for the team in their final two games before the break.
In their pursuit of their inaugural triumph in the Indian Super League (ISL), the freshly introduced Punjab FC is gearing up to face Kerala Blasters at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi this Thursday.
Punjab FC, known as the Shers, has encountered a challenging initiation into the ISL, currently finding themselves at the bottom of the league table with a modest five points. However, recent performances indicate significant improvement, fostering optimism that their maiden victory is on the horizon.
Despite facing hurdles in securing positive outcomes, Punjab FC has competitively faced every opponent except Chennaiyin FC. The offensive trio of Juan Mera, Madih Talal, and Luka Majcen has exhibited promise, yet Head Coach Staikos Vergistis is eager for the defense to elevate its performance and start keeping clean sheets.
Ahead of the clash with Kerala Blasters, Coach Vergistis expressed confidence in his team, emphasizing his belief in their abilities despite recent setbacks.
Kerala Blasters FC, following an impressive unbeaten streak spanning five games, suffered a setback with a 1-0 loss to league leaders FC Goa in their last outing. Despite currently holding onto the second position with 17 points, title contenders Mohun Bagan SG and Mumbai City FC have played fewer matches than the Blasters, intensifying the competition for the top spot.
Alsp read This:- Virat Kohli loved the ‘mock’ Chicken Tikka by Blue Tribe Foods
