The table-toppers deliver a top performance against the Yellow Army at their home ground. At the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium (Kochi), Bengaluru FC beat Kerala Blasters FC with a 3-1 score, adding three more points to their bag to further strengthen their position at the top of the table.
With an attacking display, both teams started the match. In the 8th minute, a defensive lapse gave Pereyra Diaz a reliable chance to open the scoring. The ball came from the left for Pritam Kotal, but Diaz intercepted it and chipped it over the KBFC keeper Som. And started celebrating in a noticeable way to grab everyone’s attention.
Kerala Blasters FC started adding more attacking pressure on the Blues to get back into the game. Finally, in the 45th minute, they built up an attack. Inside the box, Rahul Bheke attempted a rough challenge from behind on Peprah as he was about to take a strike, awarding Kerala Blasters a penalty. Jimenez took the penalty and equalized the score for KBFC.
In the heated second half, in the 74th minute, super-sub Mendez found the lead for Bengaluru FC. After he was fouled by Pritam Kotal, Bengaluru FC was awarded a free kick. Noguera took the free kick and delivered the ball into the box. The keeper came off his line to grab the ball but lost control, dropping it in front of Mendez, who placed it into the net.
As time passed, KBFC grew desperate to equalize, but Bengaluru FC’s defense remained determined. In the 81st minute, from Luna’s through ball, Peprah took a shot from inside the box on the right, but it hitted the far post. This was an easy and great opportunity to find their equalizer.
At the end of additional time, in the 90+4th minute, another defensive lapse allowed Mendez to score his brace. Pritam Kotal passed a through ball to Salah, but Mendez intercepted it and started a run from the center of the field. The KBFC keeper came out of the eighteen-yard box to intercept, but Mendez dribbled past him, went inside the box, and placed the ball into the empty net.
Throughout the 90 minutes, Kerala Blasters FC took several shots and held a maximum of 57% ball possession, but ended the match at home behind the Blues, as Bengaluru FC secured their 3-1 away win.
