It was a very exciting game as SC East Bengal and Kerala Blasters shared the spoils. It was a bottom of the table clash and both the teams needed wins. Both of the teams had won only 2 of their 10 games going into the fixture and were looking for their 3rd.
The tuskers linedup in a 4-4-1-1 setup with Gary Hooper playing just behind the main man, Jordan Murray up top. East Bengal started in a 3-4-1-2 shape with new signing Bright Enobakhare playing as the advanced playmaker.
Kerala started as the brighter of the two teams as Jordan Murray hit his effort straight at Debjit in the 4th minute. In the 10th minute East Bengal had a great chance but just like Murray, Harmanpreet Singh shot straight at Kerala’s goalkeeper. In the 13th minute Pereyra found Vicente Gomez in the box but his header went over the crossbar. Pereyra has been the playmaker for Kerala this season and has created 28 chances for his teammates. The tuskers started the second half in the same way they had started the first. Jordan Murray once again was the man, but his shot was saved by Debjit. Around the 50th minute mark the tuskers played some delightful football and then Gary Hooper hit his shot just wide of the post.
In the 63rd minute, finally the breakthrough came when Albino Gomes’ clearance found Jordan Murray who then bundled the ball into the back of the net. In the 94th minute to the delight of all East Bengal fans- Scott Neville headed in the ball from a corner to put EB back on level terms.
Overall it was a very sloppy performance from the red and goldens and they were lucky to salvage something from the game. As to Kerala, once again it’s the finishing which let them down but Kibu Vicuna would be happy looking at his teams display.