Anwar Ali of East Bengal FC during match 31 of INDIAN SUPER LEAGUE played between EBFC and KBFC at the VYBK Stadium in KOLKATA on 14th March 2026. Photo: Santanu Biswas /Focus Sports/ ISL
East Bengal FC – 1 (Youssef Ezzejjari 10’ p) Kerala Blasters FC – 1 (Muhammad Ajsal 90’+2)
Kolkata, Thursday, February 19, 2026: Muhammad Ajsal’s dramatic stoppage-time header ensured Kerala Blasters FC snatched a 1-1 draw against East Bengal FC and secured their first point of the season in Match 31 of the Indian Super League 2025-26 season at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata at 19:30 IST on Saturday, March 14, 2026. Youssef Ezzejjari put the home side into the lead through a penalty in the 10th minute of the game before Ajsal equalised in stoppage time. The Blasters’ striker was adjudged the Player of the Match. East Bengal head coach Óscar Bruzón made noticeable changes to his starting line-up, bringing in skipper Saúl Crespo and PV Vishnu into the starting eleven. Kerala Blasters head coach David Català made four changes, bringing in Sandeep Singh, Danish Farooq, Fallou Ndiaye, and Ebindas Yesudasan in place of Bikash Yumnam, Nihal Sudeesh, Víctor Bertomeu, and Matías Hernández, respectively.
The visitors started the match brightly, putting early pressure on the hosts. However, their momentum was halted when East Bengal broke the deadlock in the 10th minute against the run of play. Edmund Lalrindika received the ball inside the box and squared it to Youssef Ezzejjari, who Aibanbha Dohling brought down. The referee pointed to the spot, and Ezzejjari stepped up to calmly send the goalkeeper the wrong way, converting the penalty for an early 1-0 lead. Despite going behind early, the Kerala Blasters were not reserved in their approach, constantly attacking and keeping the Red and Gold’s defence busy for the remainder of the half. The hosts showed urgency in the second half to find a second goal. Still, the Blasters’ defence managed to keep the dangerous attacking duo of Ezzejjari and Miguel Ferreira largely quiet. The Red and Gold Brigade had their chances to extend the lead, including a brilliant training-ground corner routine that saw Basim Rashid’s first-time shot narrowly miss the target. The home side attempted to see out the final quarter by protecting their slender one-goal lead, but the tactic backfired deep into stoppage time. In the 92nd minute, the East Bengal defence switched off a corner, giving Ajsal a free header to slot the ball past Prabhsukhan Gill to level the game and secure their first points of the season.
