Punjab FC vs Kerala Blasters: A Thrilling Clash That Left Fans on the Edge!

Happened on January 5 2025 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the Punjab FC vs Kerala Blasters was one of the most exciting matches of the season. While fans did enjoy their time watching some of the heart-stopping moments, the victory fell into the lap of the Kerala Blasters. Even after the team was reduced to just nine players at one point. It left the fans shocked and the opponent team frustrated. 

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As for this match, let’s go through some of the exciting moments of the game. 

Pre-Match Excitement

The match kicked off with players eager to showcase the skills they had been practising for a very long time. The whole atmosphere was buzzing with energy. 

Kerala Blasters who already suffered a loss earlier against Punjab, were committed to taking revenge. Both the teams had strong starting lineups, but the stage was already set for Kerala to show what they were made of. 

Kerala Blasters started with Sachin Suresh as goalkeeper and defenders like Milos Drincic and Pritam Kotal holding the backline. While on the attacking side, Noah and Freddy were ready to create a funnel for Pubjab’s defence. 

Punjab FC on the other hand, counted on Nihal Sudeesh and Luka Majcen to break through Kerala’s defence. 

First Half: Feel the tension brewing

Kerala Blasters were looking to control possession from the beginning of the match. Early on, Kwame Peprah almost set up Noah for a goal, but Punjab’s defence held firm. 

Punjab remained calm even after all that chaos in Kerala made in the first half. They were waiting for their chance to strike back at Kerala. 

“In the 43rd minute, there came the moment that changed the game.”

Suresh Meitei who’s a defender from Punjab fouled Noah inside the penalty box, which resulted in a penalty that gave Noah the chance to score. Noah was confident and sent the ball past Punjab’s goalkeeper Shabir to give Kerala a 1-0 lead just before halftime. 

The crowd was on its feet, but Punjab was determined to come back in the second half.   

Second Half: Drama Unfolds

The second half pushed off with Punjab FC pushing hard for the equaliser. However, Kerala’s goalkeeper Sachin Suresh gave an incredible performance. He saved some crucial goals from getting hit, denying Punjab. 

Something happened in the 57th minute which left the fans shocked. 

Kerala’s Milos Drincic was shown a yellow card, leaving Kerala with just 10 players on the field. It could’ve been a setback, but the hopes were on Kerala, and they played it right. 

The team’s defenders and goalkeeper showed great discipline and kept fighting to hold on to their lead. 

Kerala’s Resilience: The Game Gets Even Tougher

In the 74th minute, things got heated up, when Aibanbha Dohling was sent to the stands. He was given a red card for a dangerous tackle. 

Now there remained only 9 players from Kerala, which made it even harder to keep Punjab from scoring. 

Even after being short-handed, Kerala Blasters didn’t back down a bit. Pritam Kotal and Sachin Suresh worked together to keep Punjab at bay. Punjab tried everything, but Kerala’s defence was rock solid. 

Punjab FC’s Missed Opportunities

Even though Punjab FC had more players on the field, they couldn’t find the back of the net. Ricky Shabong and Nihal Sudeesh came close, but Sachin Suresh was there to make some amazing saves. Kerala’s defence was strong, and Punjab’s frustration grew as the minutes passed.

As the game neared its end, Punjab couldn’t break through. Kerala Blasters held on to their slim 1-0 lead, securing the victory in an unforgettable match!

Post-Match Reflection

Kerala was overjoyed with the win, and it was a well-deserved win for the team. Even after being reduced to just 9 players they somehow managed to rock over Punjab. 

They showed teamwork makes the dream work. All the players were determined to win, which made this win even sweeter. 

The highlight was Noah’s penalty, it was a big relief for the player who had been waiting for this moment for a long time. 

Key Moments:

• Noah’s Penalty: A cool and calm finish that gave Kerala the lead.
• Solid Defense: Kerala’s defence, led by Pritam Kotal and goalkeeper Sachin Suresh, was really good throughout.
• Punjab’s Missed Chances: Punjab was a man up for all but about fifteen minutes of play, but in that time he could not translate his chances.

What’s Next?

Now that Kerala has a huge boost with this victory, they need to improve on their discipline. As they’ve got 2 red cards so far, it might affect their squad in the upcoming match. 

As for Punjab FC, they need improvement on both their attack and defence. This loss marked their 4th consecutive loss. If they want to win, they need to come up with a better strategy to turn things upside down. 

Fan Reactions

Just after the victory for Kerala Blasters, the fans on social media went crazy with excitement. This match of Punjab FC vs Kerala Blasters was nothing short of exciting. 

The fans praised Sachin Suresh’s heroic performance in goal, while Punjab FC fans were left frustrated with their team’s inability to convert chances into goals. 

Conclusion

Punjab FC and Kerala Blasters went down in an interesting roller-coaster match. Kerala Blasters astonished fans with their fight and resilience in winning the match 1-0, despite all odds against them. Noah’s penalty was the game-changer in the night and assuredly, fantastic goalkeeping by Sachin Suresh. A lot of work ahead for Punjab FC still, but they will come back to play stronger than before in the next match.

Stay tuned for more exciting updates and match highlights from the ISL 2024-25 season!