After a slow start and a wasteful first half, Kerala Blasters showed perseverance and determination to secure a crucial win over Odisha FC. Despite falling behind early on, the home team continued to attack, getting a breakthrough in the 60th minute with Kwame Peprah's equalizer. With limited options on the bench for Odisha, Kerala's late substitution Jesus Jiminez made the difference, helping them secure a much-needed victory in front of their home crowd.
Kerala Blasters Secure Crucial Victory Over Odisha FC
After a sluggish start and a disappointing first half, Kerala Blasters rallied back to secure a vital 1-1 draw against Odisha FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Saturday. Despite conceding an early goal, the home team displayed resilience and determination to secure a crucial point in their quest for a playoff spot.
Match Highlights
Odisha FC drew first blood in the 22nd minute through Nandhakumar Sekar. However, Kerala Blasters refused to let their heads drop and continued to press for an equalizer. Their efforts paid off in the 60th minute when Kwame Peprah converted a penalty after a handball in the Odisha box.
With Odisha FC's bench limited in options, Kerala Blasters made a tactical substitution in the 80th minute, bringing on Jesus Jimenez. The substitute almost immediately made an impact, winning a free kick in a dangerous position. From the subsequent set piece, he provided a pinpoint assist for Prasanth Karuthadathkuni, who headed home the equalizer in the 87th minute.
Impact on the Standings
The draw leaves Kerala Blasters in ninth place in the Indian Super League table with 19 points from 16 matches. Odisha FC, meanwhile, remain in 12th place with 14 points from the same number of games.
Post-Match Reaction
Kerala Blasters coach Ivan Vukomanovic expressed his pride in his team's performance. "We didn't start well, but we showed great character and determination to come back in the second half," he said. "This point is very important for us and it gives us confidence for the remaining matches."
Odisha FC coach Josep Gombau was disappointed with the result but praised his team's effort. "We played a good match, but we made some mistakes that cost us the game," he said. "We need to learn from these mistakes and move forward."
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
Why did Kerala Blasters struggle in the first half?
The team appeared sluggish and lacked creativity in the opening 45 minutes, failing to create any clear-cut chances.
How did Kwame Peprah's penalty change the game?
The equalizer gave Kerala Blasters a much-needed boost in confidence and allowed them to press forward with more purpose in the second half.
Why did Odisha FC have limited options on the bench?
The team had several players suspended or injured, including their regular starting goalkeeper Amrinder Singh.
What was the significance of Jesus Jimenez's substitution?
The substitute provided fresh legs and creativity in attack, helping Kerala Blasters create chances and eventually find an equalizer.
What are the implications for both teams going forward?
The point is crucial for Kerala Blasters as they continue to push for a playoff spot, while Odisha FC will need to find consistency if they want to move up the table.
The PCB has released a statement confirming that match referee Andy Pycroft has apologised for his actions during the Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan. According to the PCB, Pycroft cited miscommunication as the reason for prohibiting handshakes between the two teams, a decision which caused a delay in the match and sparked controversy. The ICC has also stated that they will investigate the incident after receiving a complaint from the PCB.
Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana has once again reclaimed the top spot in the ICC ODI rankings, as confirmed by ESPNCricinfo. The 29-year-old batter hit a half-century and a century in the recently concluded series against Australia, solidifying her position at the top. This is Mandhana's fourth time becoming the No. 1 ODI batter, previously achieving the feat in January 2019 and July 2021. With the Women's ODI World Cup starting on September 30, Mandhana's return to the top spot is great news for India. The team will look to improve upon their runner-up finish in the 2017 edition, and Mandhana's form will be crucial in achieving that.
In the second ODI against Australia, Smriti Mandhana stole the show with her impressive batting performance, scoring a century in just 77 balls. With this, she became the second-fastest Indian to score a ton in ODIs, and the first Asian cricketer to reach 15 international tons. However, India suffered a major blow as star batter Jemimah Rodrigues was ruled out of the series due to illness. Her absence will be greatly felt in the upcoming Women's ODI World Cup, where India has a good chance to win their first ICC event.
Arsenal secured a solid victory against Athletic Bilbao in the opening game of the Champions League 2025/26 season, thanks to second-half substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard. Gunners manager Mikel Arteta praised the impact of his finishers, emphasizing their importance this season. Despite a dominant start from the Spanish side, the strong defensive performance from Arsenal's four Spaniards, including former Real Sociedad players Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi, secured the win for the English side.
French forward Kylian Mbappe put on a show for Real Madrid as he scored two goals to secure a 2-1 victory against Marseille in their Champions League opener. Despite Madrid going down to 10 men and Marseille taking an early lead, Mbappe's goals proved to be the difference for the Spanish giants. The game was not without controversy as both teams had penalty calls, but Mbappe's successful conversion secured the win for Madrid, who are looking to make a strong comeback in the Champions League after seeing their rival PSG win it last season.
Indian cricketer Prithvi Shaw showed his softer side by sharing an endearing message for social media influencer and actress Akriti Agarwal. The duo recently celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi together, giving fans a glimpse of their camaraderie. Despite facing a setback in the 2025 IPL auction, Shaw is determined to make a strong comeback with his new team and has been working hard to improve his batting skills, according to Maharashtra's chief selector Akshay Darekar.
With a chance to continue their winning streak, Manchester United head to the Etihad for a heated derby match against Manchester City. Despite City's recent struggles, United should not underestimate their rivals as both teams are vying for dominance in the Premier League. However, with last season's win at the Etihad and a confident Ruben Amorim at the helm, United are poised to secure another victory. Meanwhile, the speculation surrounding the future of Manchester United's manager continues, with names like Zinedine Zidane and Sean Dyche being thrown into the mix.
In a thrilling match at the Johan Cruyff Stadium, Spanish champions Barcelona put on a masterclass performance against Valencia. The highlight of the game was Marcus Rashford's top-notch assist for Barcelona's second goal, showing his potential as a loanee from Manchester United. With Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski also scoring and the use of VAR, it was a night to remember for Barcelona's fans.
After being sidelined for 383 days due to a major injury, FC Barcelona's Marc Bernal made a stunning comeback during the team's clash with Valencia. The 18-year-old was greeted by a standing ovation from his teammates and fans as he stepped onto the pitch. In just a few minutes, he made an impact by assisting in the team's 6-0 win. This comeback marks a major milestone in Bernal's journey as a player and he will be looking to continue building on this next step in his career.
In a thrilling and high stakes match, India proved their superiority over Pakistan, winning by seven wickets. However, the Indian team's decision to not shake hands with their opponents and captain Suryakumar Yadav's dedication of the win to the armed forces sparked controversy and questions. India's victory was aided by impressive performances from players like Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Abhishek Sharma, who was hailed by Suryakumar as the player of the match. The win has secured India a spot in the Super 4s of the Asia Cup, making it a happy birthday for Suryakumar, who also achieved his personal goal of staying on the crease till the end. With the return of Sourav Ganguly as the President of the Cricket Association of Bengal, Indian cricket is looking to maintain its strong and successful legacy.