5 Best Bengaluru FC vs Kerala Blasters FC encounters

Indian Super League 2024-25 is about to witness the 18th encounter between Kerala Blasters FC and Bengaluru FC, known as the 'Southern Derby' tonight at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. Though Bengaluru FC came victorious in most of these fixtures, Kerala Blasters FC will always try their best to cause havoc. It is never a cakewalk for any team in a Derby match. 

Kerala Blasters, the team hailing from the western part of South India, will host Bengaluru FC, the team from central South India in this special rivalry tonight in Kochi. So, this match is expected to write another memorable chapter between these two teams. 

Ahead of tonight's match, Sportzpoint has selected the 5 best face-offs between Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters across all competitions. 

ISL 2018-19 | Bengaluru FC 2-2 Kerala Blasters 

Bengaluru FC hosted Kerala Blasters at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru for the league game in the ISL 2018-19 on 6 February 2019. 

Kean Lewis conceded an early penalty on behalf of Bengaluru and Slavisa Stojanovic delivered the spot-kick past Gurpreet and gave Kerala the lead in the 16th minute. The hosts got into more trouble before the half-time whistle as Courage Pekuson doubled up the lead for the Blasters. Kerala Blasters headed to the second half with a 2-0 lead over Bengaluru. 

However, things did not go as planned for Kerala as Bengaluru started attacking with more intensity and that resulted in a goal in the 69th minute. Udanta Singh headed the ball into the net to pull one back for Bengaluru. After many wasted scoring opportunities for both teams, Bengaluru FC finally completed their comeback as captain Sunil Chhetri scored the equalizer in the 85th minute. 

ISL 2020-21 | Bengaluru 4-2 Kerala Blasters

This league match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on 13 December 2020 was the first face-off between these two teams in the 2020-21 season. 

It was Kerala who opened the scoring in the 17th minute. Rahul KP sent the ball inside from a solo run by Gary Hooper in a counter-attack. Cleiton Silva equalized for Bengaluru from a defensive error by Kerala in the 29th minute. Both teams were level at half-time.

Only 3 minutes into the second half, captain Sunil Chhetri's penalty kick was saved by Albino Gomes. However, it did not make much difference as The Blues scored two goals in 4 minutes. Erik Paartalu scored in the 51st minute to give Bengaluru the coveted lead. Following that, Dimas Delgado scored in the 53rd minute to give Bengaluru a 2-goal lead over Kerala.

Jordan Murray pulled one back for Kerala in the 61st minute and created pressure on Bengaluru. But in the 65 minute, Sunil Chhetri redeemed himself after the penalty miss by scoring Bengaluru's fourth of the game. 

ISL 2020-21 | Kerala Blasters 2-1 Bengaluru 

On 20 January 2021 at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim, Kerala Blasters took revenge for their defeat at Fatorda in the ISL 2020-21.

Both teams had a firey start right from the first minute of the game but Bengaluru's Cleiton Silva drew the first blood in the 23rd minute from a great half-volley. Kerala did not hold back as they continued to attack but all remained unfruitful and they headed to the break trailing by 0-1. 

However, after a series of attacks and counter-attacks, Khawlhring gave Blasters the equalizer in the 73rd minute. This goal gave Kerala a lifeline and they kept on attacking. Everything paid off for Kerala in the 4th minute of the stoppage time when Rahul KP slotted the ball inside from a nearly-unexpected counter-attack and Kerala won the game by 2-1. 

ISL 2022-23 Play-off | Bengaluru 1-0 Kerala Blasters

This is the match that created the most controversy in a BFC vs KBFC encounter. 4th-placed Bengaluru FC met 5th-placed Kerala Blasters FC in the one-off play-off in the 2022-23 ISL on March 3, 2023, at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. 

The 90 minutes of the game remained goalless as the two teams headed into the Added Extra Time of play in search of a final result. However, in the 5th minute of the added extra time, Blasters defender Vibin Mohanan fouled Sunil Chhetri just outside the penalty box, resulting in a free-kick for Bengaluru. Sunil Chhetri took the free-kick quickly when the Blasters players were forming the wall. The ball found its way into an unguarded net.

The referee allowed the goal because he was aware that Chhetri was about to take the shot and had signaled for the play to continue. In response, the Blasters players unexpectedly protested by leaving the pitch midway through the game.

Kerala coach Ivan Vukomanovic was also seen calling off his players as a form of protest. Later, The Blasters also lodged an official complaint against the referee of the match, Crystal John. However, The win was awarded to Bengaluru and they entered the semi-final of the 2022-23 ISL.

Durand Cup 2024 | Bengaluru 1-0 Kerala Blasters

The latest encounter between Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters happened in the Durand Cup 2024 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on 23 August 2024. It was another thrilling encounter between these two teams as Bengaluru emerged victorious to progress to the semi-finals of the prestigious tournament. 

Kerala Blasters' keeper Som Kumar was taken off early in the 4th minute due to an injury. Both teams had many close chances but none could break the dead-lock. The half-time score was 0-0 and the teams headed into the second half. Both the teams kept pushing but the 90 minutes could not separate the two sides. But in the very last second of 4 minutes of the injury time, Bengaluru's forward Jorge Pereyra Diaz slotted the ball into Kerala's net to surprisingly snatch the match from them.