Bengaluru: In the first eliminator of the ISL playoffs, the match between Kerala Blasters and Bengaluru FC was goalless after the first half.
Both the teams failed to score in the match which is being played at Srikanthirava Stadium in Bengaluru. The winners of the match will face Shield winners Mumbai City FC in the semi-finals in both legs. If Blasters were ahead in ball handling and passing, Bengaluru had the upper hand in attacking football.
Although no goals were scored, the first half was exciting with both teams going forward. While Bengaluru shot five times against the post, Blasters only managed one. Bengaluru forward Roy Krishna often posed a challenge in front of the Blasters goal. Many moves that looked like goals were saved only by luck.
Coach Ivan Vukumanovic fielded the team with a few changes. Malayalam player Vipin Mohanan got a place in the playing eleven. Sahal Abdussamad is on the bench. Realized the mistakes of the previous matches and worked on the defense as well. Foreign players Viktor Mongil and Marko Leskovic were included in the first eleven.
The two will play together for the first time in the season. Malayalam star K.P. returned after suspension. Rahul is also in the starting XI. Meanwhile, midfielder Ivan Kaliushny, who is suspended following a yellow card, is not playing. The weakness of the Blasters is in the opposition fields. However, Bengaluru FC, who struggled in the first matches in the league, made a huge leap in the last matches.
Unbeaten in the last eight matches, the team even defeated Mumbai, who were unbeaten. Bengaluru’s strength is its excellent midfield.
Kerala Blasters Team: Prabhsukhan Gill, Nishu Kumar, Victor Mongil, Marco Leskovic, Jessel Carneiro, Jackson Singh, Danish, Vipin Mohan, K.P. Rahul, Adrian Luna and Dimitrios Diamantakos.