Sipovic goal takes Kerala Blasters past SC East Bengal, back into top four
(Courtesy : ISL Media)
Ivan Vukomanovic's men are now just three points far from leaders Hyderabad FC.
Kerala Blasters FC breached the top-four positions after securing a narrow 1-0 win over SC East Bengal in the 2021-22 Indian Super League (ISL) at the Tilak Maidan Stadium.
The Yellows reached the third position from sixth, thanks to the solitary goal by Enes Sipovic (49’) who scored the winner for the Kochi side with a towering header. As for the Red & Gold Brigade, the winless run extends to five matches.
A measured approach from both teams saw less clear scoring chances in the early stages. Alvaro Vazquez was the first to hit the target for Kerala Blasters with a diving header which was easily saved by SC East Bengal goalkeeper Sankar Roy between the sticks. The custodian was quite busy in the remainder of the first half as well but commanded his area expertly to deny a goal to the Yellow Army.
[KH_ADWORDS type="4" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS]
There were no goals to report in the first half as neither team was able to break the deadlock before going into the break. The second half began on a sensational note for Kerala Blasters as they went into the lead courtesy of Enes Sipovic. Four minutes into the half, he connected well with a corner and guided the header past the goalkeeper to score his first goal in the ISL.
Ivan Vukomanovic’s men continued to push for another goal after getting their noses in front. Jorge Diaz made room for himself on the 68th-minute mark but had his shot saved easily by Roy. Immediately on the other end, Antonio Perosevic unleashed a volley that almost caught Prabhsukhan Gill off-guard but did not lead to a goal. Mario Rivera made a whole host of changes post the second water break in order to inspire his team to find an equaliser.
[KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News |ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]
Hira Mondal received a late yellow card but could have gotten a red due to the nature of his tackle on Adrian Luna. Six minutes were added by the fourth official for stoppages but Kerala Blasters maintained their lead and secured the win with a determined defensive performance.
Kerala Blasters FC faces a stern ATK Mohun Bagan test in their next outing at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Saturday while SC East Bengal plays reigning ISL champions Mumbai City FC at the PJN Stadium on Tuesday after a week’s gap.
For more football updates, follow Khel Now on Twitter, Instagram and join our community on Telegram.
- Paraguay vs Argentina: Live streaming, TV channel, kick-off time & where to watch 2026 World Cup qualifers
- Who is Irfan Yadwad? Indian football team's new call-up
- Venezuela vs Brazil: Live streaming, TV channel, kick-off time & where to watch 2026 World Cup qualifiers
- Will Lionel Messi play tonight for Argentina vs Paraguay in World Cup qualifier?
- France vs Israel: Live streaming, TV channel, kick-off time & where to watch Nations League 2024-25
- Petr Kratky highlights this Mumbai City FC player's performance against Kerala Blasters
- Mohun Bagan not be fined by AFC after recognising their case as 'Event of Force Majeure'
- How much bonus did Vinicius Jr miss out on after losing Ballon d'Or 2024 award?
- Mats Hummels' girlfriend: Meet Nicola Cavanis, her job, Instagram & more
- Ballon d'Or 2024: List of all award winners
- How many players from their home state/region does each ISL team have?
- Want to watch India live in action against Malaysia? Find out how
- Top 10 best football matches to watchout for in November International break
- How Manolo Marquez is trying to take Indian football team forward, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu reveals
- Gurpreet Singh Sandhu identifies three key players for success against Malaysia