The Blasters went ‘head-to-head’ with the Highlanders in Kochi for the first time in 2025 with the journey to the top 6 spot at stake. The home side was enjoying a slight domination over the visitors until the 30th minute when Aiban got sent off. The 10-Men Blasters showed commendable defensive solidarity and held the Highlanders to a 0-0 draw. Let’s take a peek at some of the game’s peak moments.
Tomasz Tchorz and T.G. Purushothaman made 3 changes from the team that won 3-2 against Odisha FC – suspended Naocha Singh was replaced by Aiban at LB and veteran Sandeep was placed back at RB in the starting lineup for the first time in 2025. Pritam Kotal was replaced by vice-captain Drincic coming back from his red Card suspension. The last change was the return of Vibin to the starting 11 replacing the Alexandre Coeff, who left the team just days prior. (Coeff was spotted in the stands watching the game.) Juan Pedro Benali made two changes replacing Guillermo and Mayakannan with Nestor and Bekey Oram.
Northeast got the first set-piece of the game through a freekick just above the halfway line, but the subsequent attack was defended diligently by the Blasters. The first major event in the game came through a long-distance effort by captain Adrian Luna which found the back of the net in the 5th minute of the game but was disallowed by the referee claiming a prior foul by Luna on Bemammer to win the ball.
Both sides had end-to-end action in the upcoming minutes, but a string of poorly executed passes combined with miscommunication in the final 3rd for both sides resulted in both sides creating no major threat to each other. Macarton of Northeast went into the book in the 22nd minute for trying to block Luna’s quick freekick attempt.
After a harmless chipped pass by Bemammer into the box which went out for a goal kick, Ajaraie and his marker Aiban had a heated exchange of words which went awry. Aiban seemingly headbutted the Moroccan during the argument which was enough for the referee to give him marching orders, for the second time this season. The Blasters were 10-men down in the 30th minute of the game with an hour of regulation time still left to play. Ajaraie was also booked for the argument.
The Blasters even after being a man down searched for the opening goal of the game mostly through the likes of their Moroccan star winger, Noah Sadaoui but was unable to do so. Northeast had arguably their best chance of the game in the dying moments of the first half when Ajaraie was released through a timed pass by Oram just to have his bullet shot saved by the birthday boy Sachin Suresh in goal.
The Blasters also got a chance in the dying minutes of the first half through a freekick won by Noah after a fantastic run by the Moroccan was abruptly stopped near the edge of the box by a sliding Bemammer, who got booked for the challenge and injured himself in the process. The freekick by Luna however wasn’t converted efficiently as both sides went for the half-time break with no changes in the scoresheet.
The Blasters subbed off an underperforming Vibin and brought in Danish Farooq in an effort to strengthen the defense while Benali wanted to capitalize on the numerical advantage and brought on Guillermo to replace the injured Bemammer for the second half. The game restarted in a similar fashion to the first half with both sides having end-to-end action. In a notable tactical switch by Tomasz, KBFC’s young gem Korou Singh moved to the RB position in game while Sandeep moved to the LB spot left vacant by suspended Aiban.
In the 50th minute, Nestor Albiach came close to giving the visitors the lead with a crackling shot from outside the box which hit the outer post and Guillermo failed to capitalize on the rebound as the Blasters’ defense cleared the danger. Northeast had major chance again in the 54th minute through a counter but was wasted as Samte’s shot was placed away from the post. The game was under Northeast’s feet for most of the second half with the Blasters mostly embedded in their own half in defense.
The Blasters still had their moments of offense, mostly through Noah but failed to find the target. Benali brought on Tondonba to replace a tiring Samte in the 80th minute. Northeast got another big opportunity in the 81st minute when a header from Macarton on a corner kick by Nestor ricocheted off KBFC players in the box and fell into the path of their skipper Zabaco, who went 1v1 with the goalie and saw his point-blank shot getting saved. The threat was not yet averted as the rebound fell to Guillermo who took a first-time shot but was bounced off by Danish who arrived in front of the empty net.
Tomasz made 2 substitutions in the 83rd minute, subbing off a tired Freddy for Amawia and captain Adrian Luna for the new signing Dusan Lagator whose first challenge was called out as a foul. In the 90th minute, both coaches opted for fresh attacking options as Tomasz brought in Jesus while Benali brought in Parthib. The game didn’t have any major moments in the stoppage time as the Blasters secured a point in their home game while displaying great commitment.
The 18-year-old Korou Singh who capped a mature performance in both offense and defense won the Player of the Match award. Tomasz and Purushothaman would be impressed with the defensive solidarity shown by the team even with a man down as they look forward to their next game away against East Bengal. Benali on the other hand finds himself in a tough spot with the 4th consecutive draw faced by his side.
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