Despite the challenges, the Blasters rallied in the second half, with Noah Sadaoui and Kwame Peprah scoring to clinch a hard-fought win…reports Asian Lite News
After a thrilling 2-1 victory against East Bengal FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 clash, Kerala Blasters head coach Mikael Stahre provided an honest assessment of his team’s performance, particularly their offensive struggles.
Stahre pointed to the absence of star player Luna as a major factor. “To be honest, we’re really missing Luna,” Stahre admitted. “He’s the one who can pass, keep possession, score, and shoot—he’s the best in the league, and everyone knows it. We’ve got other talented players, but Luna’s presence adds something unique, and our attack has clearly felt his absence.”
Despite the challenges, the Blasters mounted a second-half comeback, with goals from Noah Sadaoui and Kwame Peprah securing a hard-fought win in front of a passionate home crowd at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi.
Stahre acknowledged Danish’s solid contribution but emphasized the difference between his style and Luna’s. “Danish played a good game. He’s more of a fighter, pressing and running behind the defense. He’s not the kind of attacking midfielder who provides those crucial passes, but his energy created a lot of opportunities for us.”
Tactical adjustments were key to Kerala Blasters’ victory. Stahre moved Noah into a central role and shifted Iman to the left, which paid off in the second half. “Noah did well in that position, and Iman was much better in the last 30 minutes compared to last week,” Stahre noted.
The opening half saw chances for both teams, with Jesus Jimenez and Dimitrios Diamantakos getting close for East Bengal and Kerala Blasters. It was Diamantakos who helped his team take the lead in the 59th minute. East Bengal capitalised on a defensive error by Sandeep Singh, leading to Vishnu Puthiya’s goal.
However, Kerala Blasters responded swiftly. Noah Sadaoui equalized just four minutes later with sharp footwork, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. The Blasters continued to push forward, and in the 88th minute, Kwame Peprah capitalized on a defensive lapse to score the winning goal, making it the 12th goal after the 85th minute in ISL 2024-25.
Stahre praised his team’s resilience but acknowledged the impact of injuries and fatigue. “After 74 minutes, we were scrambling. The intensity of the game, combined with players recovering from injuries, made it tough.
Despite the challenges, Stahre remains optimistic, emphasizing the importance of Luna’s return. “We’re a strong team, but having Luna back will make a huge difference going forward.”
This late-game victory underscored the excitement of ISL 2024-25, where results are coming down to the wire, thrilling fans in the stadium and at home.
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