Kerala Blasters FC Achieves First Win of ISL Season with Comeback Against Bengaluru FC

Kerala Blasters FC Triumphs in Thrilling Match

In an exciting second-half turnaround, Kerala Blasters FC clinched their inaugural victory of the Indian Super League 2025-26 season, defeating Bengaluru FC 2-1 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday. The match report indicates that Bengaluru initially took the lead with an own goal from Fallou Ndiaye, but Victor Bertomeu equalized before substitute Francisco Feuillassier netted the winning goal.

Bengaluru FC Takes Early Lead Despite Red Card

The match began with Kerala Blasters showing promise, nearly scoring in the seventh minute when a header from Fallou Ndiaye was saved by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. Ebindas Y also missed a chance shortly after, as the visitors looked dangerous early on. Bengaluru FC gradually found their rhythm, with Ryan Williams creating opportunities on the right flank. Sunil Chhetri came close to scoring in the 23rd minute but headed wide from a cross by Nikhil Poojary. Williams then tested goalkeeper Arsh Shaikh with a powerful shot from the right side of the box.

The breakthrough for Bengaluru came in the 28th minute due to a misfortune for Kerala. Williams delivered a dangerous cross, and in an attempt to clear, Fallou inadvertently scored an own goal, giving Bengaluru the lead.

The match took a significant turn in the 34th minute when Braian Sanchez received a straight red card for violent conduct, leaving Bengaluru with ten players. Kerala Blasters aimed to exploit their numerical advantage, led by Kevin Y, but Bengaluru's defense, organized by Chinglensana Singh, managed to maintain their slim lead until halftime.

Kerala Blasters Mounts a Comeback in the Second Half

After the break, Bengaluru continued to threaten on counterattacks, with Williams coming close again in the 49th minute. Ashique Kuruniyan also forced a strong save from Arsh Shaikh as Bengaluru sought to extend their lead despite being a man down.

Bertomeu Levels the Score

Kerala Blasters began to take control of the game and were rewarded in the 60th minute. Ebindas delivered a precise through ball to Victor Bertomeu, who calmly finished with a right-footed shot into the bottom-right corner, leveling the score.

Feuillassier Scores the Winning Goal on His Debut

With the momentum shifting in their favor, the Blasters pressed on and found success in the 78th minute. Substitute Francisco Feuillassier made a memorable debut by receiving another sharp pass from Ebindas, maneuvering past his defender, and scoring from a tight angle through Gurpreet's legs to give Kerala a 2-1 lead.

Bengaluru pushed for an equalizer in the final moments, with Monirul Molla and Williams leading the charge, but Kerala's defense held strong. Arsh Shaikh made a crucial save during stoppage time, and Bikash Yumnam executed an important clearance to secure the victory. The final whistle confirmed Kerala Blasters FC's hard-fought 2-1 win, showcasing their resilience and composure in overcoming the deficit against a determined Bengaluru side.