The hosts Kerala Blasters FC took down East Bengal FC with an electrifying comeback by 2-1 to win their first game of the 2024-25 Indian Super League at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. Though East Bengal drew the first blood the Blasters paved the way to come from behind scoring 2 goals to put three points in the pocket. East Bengal FC faces a second consecutive defeat this season. 

Shared Dominance from Both Teams in the First Half

Though Kerala Blasters had a boastful start in the opening quarter, East Bengal gradually increased their commanding presence in the game. Both teams were up and running quickly and the ball was rolling down to both halves. Kerala Blasters showcased some swift efforts as well as East Bengal but both the teams have remained unsuccessful in finding the breakthrough. Both the teams fought neck to neck as Kerala ended the first half with 51% ball possession and East Bengal ended with 49% of the same. 

Series of Wasted Opportunities

Though East Bengal created better chances in the first half right from the opening minutes they failed to convert those opportunities into a goal. In the 18th minute, Mark Zothanpuia delivered a beautiful cross from the left but Nandha Kumar could not make it count as KBFC Keeper Sachin pushed the ball wide and Drincic man-marked Madih Talal following that, who also could not convert the second ball.

East Bengal wasted their best chance in the 44th minute when Mark Zothanpuia made a cross but Diamantakos failed to connect from a very close distance and Madih Talal also could not find the ball and Sachin ended the looming threat.

On the other hand, Jesus Jimenez pulled the trigger for Kerala Blasters in the 8th minute from the left but his curling effort touched the wrong side of the net. Rahul KP who dominated the right wing for Kerala initiated some crosses from the right, but poor positioning from his teammates in the opening minutes led them to remain unfruitful.

But also it was Rahul himself who missed the best scoring opportunity for the Blasters in the 38th minute. He was unmarked and received a brilliant cross from the right but miss-timed the header and it went just wide off the target. 

Commendable Defence from Both Teams 

The Partner-in-crimes pair who featured for Mohun Bagan SG last year; Hector Yuste and Anwar Ali held their ground strongly against Kerala's attacks in the first half. Mark Zothanpuia kept running up and down the left wing and he continually remained a serious threat to Kerala's defence with his vicious crosses. Milos Drincic led the Kerala Blasters in defence along with Pritam Kotal whereas Goal Keeper Sachin Suresh displayed an appreciable presence in guarding the goal for Kerala in the first 45 minutes. 

PV Vishnu Broke the Dead-lock for East Bengal FC 

East Bengal Coach Carlos Cuadrat took off Naorem Mahesh Singh in the 57th minute and PV Vishnu made his way to the pitch. Vishnu paid off his coach's trust in him by having the deadlock broken in the 59th minute, only two minutes after he was subbed on. Nandha Kumar won the duel in midfield and passed the ball to Diamantakos who swiftly made an easy minus to an open Vishnu in front of the opponent's goal and Vishnu made no mistake in tapping the ball into the goal! East Bengal went 1-0 up. 

Pure Vishnu magic! 🎩

Catch the LIVE action of #KBFCEBFC NOW on #JioCinema and #Sports18-3! 👈#ISLonJioCinema #ISLonSports18 #JioCinemaSports #LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/psCHE1oRmf

— JioCinema (@JioCinema) September 22, 2024

Noah Sadaoui Pulls off a Blazing Equalizer

After East Bengal went up having a 1-0 lead, it was Noah Sadaoui who took the matter into his own hands and fooled the opponent's defense with his magic touches and equalized the game for Kerala in the 63rd minute. Noah Sadaoui showcased his brilliance as he danced through the East Bengal defense with his touches inside-out and opened the front of the goal before he beat EBFC Keeper Prabhsukhan Gill with a powerful and grounded strike!

𝐍⚽𝐀𝐇 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐘 🔥

He scores the equalizer to bring the #KeralaBlasters, back into the game.#ISLonJioCinema #ISLonSports18 #JioCinemaSports #LetsFootball #KBFCEBFC pic.twitter.com/3qak2mGqzo

— JioCinema (@JioCinema) September 22, 2024

Kwame Peprah wins it for the Blasters

Kerala's coveted winner came in the 88th minute with Kwame Peprah's strike ending up in East Bengal's goal. After getting the ball from Mohammad Aimen who won the ball in a duel in front of the opponent's box, Peprah ensured Kerala's command over the scoreline with a left-footed strike. It was the most important lead that gave Kerala a 2-1 advantage and Kerala's defense did their job well for the final minutes. 

Kwame Peprah hammers home the winner for #KBFC 💥#ISLonJioCinema #ISLonSports18 #JioCinemaSports #LetsFootball #KBFCEBFC pic.twitter.com/eqhhMamhL8

— JioCinema (@JioCinema) September 22, 2024

Final Whistle Blows

Kerala Blasters FC ensured three points and their first win of the 2024-25 season. They climbed to the 5th position on the league table whereas East Bengal FC lost their second consecutive match this season. It was a dramatic showdown between the two teams with both teams playing well, creating many chances and standing tall in defense. Though East Bengal gave a tough fight, the home side emerged victorious in front of their roaring fans. 

Man of the Match: Noah Sadaoui

Kerala's forward Noah Sadaoui was the obvious choice for the Man of the Match Award in the showdown against East Bengal because of his significant display with the all-important equalizer that gifted a lifeline to his team. Sadaoui made 58 touches and also made 28 accurate passes with a success rate of 78%. 

Next Up for Kerala Blasters FC and East Bengal FC

Kerala Blasters FC will take the field for their first away game of the season in the hills against NorthEast United FC, scheduled to take place at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on 29th September 2024. East Bengal FC will look to earn their first point against FC Goa in their first home game at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on 27th September 2024. 

Brief Scores:

Kerala Blasters FC: 2 (Noah Sadaoui 63', Kwame Peprah 88')

East Bengal FC: 1 (PV Vishnu 59')

The Indian Super League (ISL) has consistently served as a launch pad for India’s most promising football talent. The ISL 2024-25 season was no different, with young stars lighting up the league and charting the future course of Indian football.

Here are top 5 Indian players to watch in ISL 2025.

Also Read: Highest scoring footballers of the 21st century

Indian Players to Watch in ISL 2025

1. Dippendu Biswas | Mohun Bagan Super Giant

Dippendu Biswas, 21, made 14 appearances in a star-studded MBSG line-up and carved an impact with his defensive contributions, comprising 14 interceptions and victorious tackles each, 42 duels won and 39 recoveries.

He also occasionally delivered upfront; producing a goal and two assists and was named the ISL Emerging Player of the Month for February 2025.

2. Vinith Venkatesh | Bengaluru FC

Bengaluru FC has a track record of producing young talent for the nation. With Gerard Zaragoza in the managerial position, one of the players who made his mark this season is Vinith Venkatesh.

The 19-year-old impressed many with his dribbling and passing ability. A passing accuracy of 80per cent alongside 191 successful passes and 9 successful dribbles in only 602 minutes makes him a great prospect for the Blues’ future. Vinith has not only got a solitary goal and two assists to his name this ISL season but has also scored twice against Mohammedan SC and once against Mohun Bagan in the Durand Cup.

3. Brison Fernandes | FC Goa

Another player that has been a break-out talent this year is Brison Fernandes. From Goa’s under 18 team to being an out right starter, it has been quite a rise for Brison.

Brison has managed to impress with his dribbling and shooting capability scoring seven goals and assisting twice. The 23-year-old created 27 chances for the Gaurs and provided 25 key passes into the final third. With his direct play, the left-winger emerged as one of the most exciting young Indian players to watch this season.

4. Tekcham Abhishek Singh | Punjab FC

In only his second ISL campaign, defender Tekcham Abhishek Singh impressed with returns that saw him become the player with the third-most interceptions (47).

The 20-year-old won seven aerial duels, 17 tackles, 23 clearances, in addition to making 70 recoveries, while forming an impeccable partnership with Nikhil Prabhu, who made the most interceptions in the league in the season gone by (56).

Also Read: Top scorers in ISL history

5. Macarton Louis Nickson | NorthEast United FC

NorthEast United made it to the play-offs after three years, while most of the credits go to its foreign players like Alaaeddine Ajaraie and Nestor Albiach, a player that went under the radar is young midfielder Macarton Nickson.

With 21 appearances and a passing accuracy of 73 per cent, he has really shone under Juan Pedro Benali this season. The 21-year-old has established himself as a box to box midfielder providing both in defence and attack. 

Defensively, Macarton has 97 recoveries and 13 interceptions. In attack as well, he has been able to support by providing 2two goals, one assists and 22 successful dribbles making him a beautiful player to watch.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) celebrated the best of Indian football at the AIFF Awards 2025, held today in Bhubaneswar, honouring outstanding players, coaches, referees, and member associations for their contributions during the 2024-25 season.

The ceremony highlighted the growing competitiveness of Indian football, with Mohun Bagan SG’s Subhasish Bose and East Bengal FC’s Soumya Guguloth crowned Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year, respectively. 

AIFF Awards 2025 Winners

Individual Awards

• Men's Player of the Year: Subhasish Bose (Mohun Bagan SG, Defender)
  • Recognised for his leadership as captain and stellar performances for Mohun Bagan SG as the mariners became the first team to defend the ISL Shield, along with reclaiming the ISL Cup. Bose kept 13 clean sheets as a defender and scored 6 goals as well. 
• Women's Player of the Year: Soumya Guguloth (East Bengal FC, Forward)
  • Honoured as the top Indian scorer in the Indian Women’s League (IWL) and a key player for the Blue Tigresses. She helped East Bengal FC win the IWL 2024-25 title.
• Men's Goalkeeper of the Year: Vishal Kaith (Mohun Bagan SG)
  • Awarded for holding the record for the most clean sheets in Indian Super League (ISL) history. Kaith had a record 15 clean sheets in ISL 2024-25 and conceded only 19 goals across 26 appearances
• Most Promising Men's Player of the Year: Brison Fernandes (Midfielder)
  • Noted for his midfield mastery and potential as a rising star.
• Most Promising Women's Player of the Year: Neha (Haryana, Winger)
  • Recognised for her performances, including 2 goals in the SAFF U19 Women’s Championship and 3 goals in the Senior Women’s National Championship.
• Men's Coach of the Year: Khalid Jamil (Jamshedpur FC)
  • Won for the second consecutive year for leading Jamshedpur FC to the Kalinga Super Cup semifinals.
• Women's Coach of the Year: Sujata Kar (Sreebhumi FC)
  • Awarded for guiding newly-promoted Sreebhumi FC to a third-place finish in the IWL.
• Male Referee of the Year: Venkatesh R
  • Acknowledged for consistent officiating on the pitch.
• Female Referee of the Year: Tekcham Ranjita Devi
  • Recognised for her officiating excellence.
• Male Referee of the Year: Venkatesh R
• Male Assistant Referee of the Year: Vairamuthu P

Member Association (MA) Awards

• Most Successful MA (Club Competitions): Indian Football Association (West Bengal)
  • For dominance in men’s competitions, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal winning major titles.
• Most Successful MA (NFC Competitions): All Manipur Football Association
  • Recognised for success in the National Football Championships.
• Best MA for Supporting Women’s Football: Punjab Football Association
  • Honoured for contributions to women’s football development.
• Best MA for Hosting Most AIFF Competitions: Football Association of Odisha and Goa Football Association
  • For hosting numerous AIFF events.
• MA with Most Player Registrations (Men’s): Kerala Football Association
  • For the highest number of male player registrations.
• MA with Most Player Registrations (Women’s): Western India Football Association (Maharashtra)
  • For leading in female player registrations.
• Special Award for MA Launching New Projects: Gujarat State Football Association
  • For innovative football initiatives.
• MA with Most Grassroots Activities: Gujarat State Football Association
  • For extensive grassroots programs.
• MA with Most Youth Tournaments Conducted: Karnataka State Football Association
  • For organising numerous youth tournaments.
• MA with Most Coaching Courses: Punjab Football Association
  • For conducting the most coaching courses.
• MA with Most Refereeing Courses: Gujarat State Football Association
  • For leading in referee training programs.

On a vibrant Saturday evening, April 26, 2025, Mohun Bagan SG’s youthful squad clinched a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Kerala Blasters FC in the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 quarter-finals, securing their spot in the semi-finals.

The Mariners, boasting an all-Indian lineup save for Portuguese defender Nuno Reis, showcased their attacking flair with goals from Sahal Abdul Samad in the 22nd minute and Suhail Ahmad Bhat in the 51st. Despite a late strike from Kerala Blasters’ Sreekuttan MS in the 94th minute, Mohun Bagan SG held firm, thanks to a stellar performance by goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem. Bastab Roy’s team now awaits the winner of the FC Goa vs. Punjab FC clash in the semi-final on April 30.

The match kicked off cautiously, with both sides probing without overcommitting. For the first 20 minutes, neither team managed to create clear chances. Then, Mohun Bagan SG sparked the game to life with a moment of brilliance.

Salahudheen Adnan dazzled down the right, weaving past Naocha Singh before delivering a pinpoint cross into the box. Sahal Abdul Samad, with a deft shoulder drop, shook off Ruivah Hormipam and delicately lifted the ball over goalkeeper Sachin Suresh to break the deadlock.

The goal jolted Kerala Blasters into action, and they pushed hard for an equaliser. Noah Sadaoui, fresh off a spectacular long-range goal against East Bengal, tried his luck from distance but sent the ball straight to Dheeraj Singh.

Read Also | India expresses formal interest to host the AFC Asian Cup 2031

The Blasters grew threatening from set pieces, particularly short corners. In the 30th minute, Sadaoui’s low cross after a quick one-two with Vibin Mohanan was cleared by Dippendu Biswas. Moments later, Hormipam’s looping cross nearly sneaked into the top corner, only for Dheeraj to tip it over.

Just before halftime, Mohammed Aimen cut in from the left and unleashed a curling shot that sailed narrowly over the bar, leaving the Blasters frustrated.

The second half began with Mohun Bagan SG striking early. In the 47th minute, Sachin Suresh pulled off a stunning save to deny Salahudheen in a one-on-one, but the warning went unheeded. Four minutes later, Ashique Kuruniyan tore down the left, breezed past Hormipam, and rolled a precise pass to Suhail Ahmad Bhat, who calmly slotted it home to double the lead.

From there, the game became the Dheeraj Singh show. Kerala Blasters threw everything forward, but the Mohun Bagan goalkeeper stood tall. Jesús Jiménez squandered two golden opportunities, blasting over the bar in the 65th minute and dragging a shot wide two minutes later. In the 70th minute, Dheeraj denied substitute Kwame Peprah’s angled effort, and with five minutes left, Peprah’s low cross found Jiménez, who couldn’t connect cleanly.

Read Also | Will Indian-Origin players ever get to play for India? AIFF keeps showing its aimless approach

Dheeraj’s heroics continued as he thwarted Peprah from point-blank range, with Amandeep clearing Ebindas Y’s follow-up off the line. The Blasters finally broke through in stoppage time when Jiménez set up Sreekuttan, who rifled a shot past Dheeraj. But the goal came too late to spark a comeback.

Salahudheen Adnan earned the Kalinga Player of the Match award for his electrifying performance.

Kerala Blasters FC started their Kalinga Super Cup 2025 on a high note by knocking out defending champions East Bengal by 2-0 in Bhubaneshwar on Sunday. Noah Sadaoui and Jesús Jiménez scored the goals for the Kerala Blasters as they outplayed the Kolkata side. 

With this defeat, East Bengal FC's season ended on a sad note after an overwhelming finish in the Indian Super League 2024-25. 

Kerala Blasters march on! 💥⚽

A dominant 2-0 win over East Bengal seals their spot in the Super 8. Next stop: a high-voltage clash against Mohun Bagan!#KBFC #BlastersOnTheRise #Super8Bound #keralablasters #SuperCup #mohunbagan #EastBengal #Indianfootball #Footballindia pic.twitter.com/ISfwWWWKly

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) April 20, 2025

Jesús Jiménez opened the scoring for Kerala as he found the back of the net from a penalty in the 40th minute of the match. In the second half, Noah Sadaoui extended the lead for the Manjapadas in the 64th minute to hand them an easy win. 

Blasters looked threatening from the word go as Jesus nearly scored from Noah's delivery in the second minute of the game. They kept on applying the pressure, but could not find the end result despite a few chances created by Noah. 

Noah Sadaoui's banger from outside the box in Kerala Blasters vs East Bengal FC match in Kalinga Super Cup 2025. pic.twitter.com/uWjrbpLMDZ

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) April 20, 2025

But it wasn't until the 40th minute that Jesus Jimenez stepped up to take the penalty after Gill made a foul inside the box. 

In the 64th minute, Noah scored a screamer of a goal to extend the lead, which was eventually good enough for them to qualify for the quarter-finals. 

Kerala Blasters will now face Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the quarter-final on 26th April. For those who do not know, Mohun Bagan SG will play from the quarter-final directly after they received a bye in the round of 16. 

"Today, the team showed me that they still have something inside, and they wanted to compete and do their best. I’m proud of them cuz the work they’ve done is amazing. We’ll have to see about Luna. He felt that it wasn’t good and asked for a change. We’ll see," Balsters' coach David Catala said after the win. 

East Bengal FC cemented their status as IWL 2024-25 champions with a commanding 3-0 victory over Gokulam Kerala FC at the East Bengal ground on Friday.

Already assured of the title before kickoff, the Red and Golds showcased their supremacy by defeating every team in the league en route to the championship, with all three goals coming in an explosive first half.

Read Also | Exclusive Shreya Hooda: Best Goalkeeper in IWL & NFC, National team and the World Cup dream

The star of the show was Elshaddai Acheampong, who opened the scoring in the 27th minute. After missing earlier chances, including a header from five yards in the 19th minute, the Ghanaian forward made amends with a clinical finish, chipping the goalkeeper after a deft move past defenders following a pass from Anju Tamang.

Read Also | 10 Best Women's Football Players and Leagues You Must Watch in 2025

Her poacher’s instinct shone again in the 37th minute, tapping in a cross from Karthika Angamuthu at the back post to double the lead. Minutes before halftime, Soumya Guguloth sealed the rout in the 42nd minute, rounding the keeper to score after a perfectly timed through ball.

Read Also | Beatrice Chebet becomes the first woman to run 5km under 14 minutes in Barcelona

Despite the title already in hand, East Bengal displayed remarkable professionalism, dominating possession and stifling Gokulam from the outset. The second half saw Gokulam mount a brief challenge, testing goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu with a long-range effort, but the champions held firm. This win marked the only team East Bengal had yet to beat this season, completing a flawless campaign.

The victory underscored East Bengal’s dominance throughout the season, blending skill, composure, and relentless attacking play.

For Gokulam, the defeat highlighted their struggle against the league’s top side, as East Bengal celebrated a perfect end to their triumphant IWL 2024-25 journey.