ISL results: Kerala Blasters 4-2 East Bengal Crespo and Mahesh score brace to defeat 9-man Kerala

East Bengal have defeated Kerala Blasters 4-2 in a massive win, with the home team reduced to nine men by the end of the game. Saul Crespo and Naorem Mahesh Singh each scored a brace to help the Red and Gold side to an important victory, which has let them rise up to 7th in the table.

The game started in favour of the hosts, with Fedor Černych scoring the opener 23 minutes in. But, things changed after Jeakson Singh was sent off for a second yellow card, leading to a penalty which Saul Crespo converted. The two sides went back into the tunnel 1-1, setting up a thrilling second period.

East Bengal defeat Kerala Blasters in massive win

East Bengal register a marvellous comeback to conquer Kerala! 😱

Their playoff dreams are still alive!#IndianFootball #ISL #LetsFootball #KBFCEBFC #KBFC #KeralaBlasters #EBFC #EastBengalFC pic.twitter.com/YhagIowJuA

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) April 3, 2024

Crespo scored a second goal in the 70th minute to give his side the lead. And shortly after, Naocha Singh was shown a red card, reducing Kerala Blasters to nine men.

Mahesh Singh scored two goals in quick succession towards the end of the game, to compensate for Hijazi Maher’s own goal and to win the game by two goals.

Kerala Blasters are comfortably fifth, and it seems unlikely that they will be challenging for the title this season. As a result, they will have the remaining two games of the season to prepare for the playoffs.

East Bengal, on the other hand, will have to hope that Chennaiyin falter, and that they defeat both Bengaluru FC and Punjab FC if they are to finish sixth and qualify for the playoffs.