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Indian Super League 2024-25: Kerala Blasters Seal 3-1 Win Over Chennaiyin FC as Red Card Proves Costly

Chennaiyin FC, reduced to ten men, suffered a 3-1 defeat to Kerala Blasters despite a late goal from Vincy Barretto in the Indian Super League 2024-25.

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Indian Super League 2024-25: Kerala Blasters Seal 3-1 Win Over Chennaiyin FC as Red Card Proves Costly

Chennaiyin FC, reduced to ten men, suffered a 3-1 defeat against Kerala Blasters FC in the Indian Super League 2024-25 on Thursday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai. Although Vincy Barretto scored late, it was not enough to change the result.

Early Setback for Chennaiyin

Before the match, Chennaiyin made key changes to their lineup. Lukas Brambilla, Farukh Choudhary, and Laldinliana Renthlei returned to the starting XI. Meanwhile, Brambilla and Choudhary joined Connor Shields and Lalrinliana Hnamte in midfield. At the back, Pritam Kotal made his first start at centre-back, while Dinliana took the right-back position.

However, Kerala Blasters started strong. In the third minute, Jesus Jimenez broke through and scored from a tight angle, beating goalkeeper Mohammad Nawaz. Ten minutes later, Nawaz made an important save to deny Kerala a second goal. Soon after, Chennaiyin had a chance to equalize, but Kerala’s goalkeeper stopped Ryan Edwards’ effort.

Missed Opportunities and a Costly Red Card

Chennaiyin came close again when Farukh Choudhary sprinted down the left flank and sent a dangerous cross into the box. Unfortunately, neither Connor Shields nor Brambilla could finish the move.

Then, things took a turn for the worse. In the 37th minute, Wilmar Jordan Gil received a red card for a soft foul, leaving Chennaiyin with ten men. As a result, Kerala took full control and doubled their lead in stoppage time, thanks to a deflected shot.

Kerala Increases Their Advantage

After halftime, Chennaiyin pushed forward in search of a goal. Just minutes into the second half, Shields curled a shot narrowly wide. However, Kerala responded quickly. Around the 60-minute mark, they scored again from close range, extending their lead to 3-0.

Despite the setback, Chennaiyin did not give up. They continued attacking, with second-half substitutes Vincy Barretto and Daniel Chima Chukwu adding fresh energy. Eventually, their persistence paid off. In the closing minutes, Vincy connected with Irfan Yadwad’s cross and slotted the ball past the goalkeeper. This marked his first league goal of the season and gave Chennaiyin a consolation goal.

Looking Ahead

Now, Chennaiyin must regroup and prepare for their next challenge. They will face East Bengal away on Saturday, February 8, hoping to bounce back with a strong performance.