Latest news with #Blasters
New Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Setback for Kerala Blasters, AIFF refuses club Premier 1 licence
KOCHI: There's bad news for Kerala Blasters fans. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has refused the Premier 1 club licence to the club this year, hindering their chances of participation in the 2025-26 season of the Indian Super League (ISL) unless the management files an appeal or pays a penalty. The exact reason behind the AIFF's refusal is not officially known. The federation said it was because of 'failures across criteria A or B' of licensing, while Blasters in a post on X (formerly Twitter) cited 'compliance requirements beyond the club's control'. However, sources said issues with the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kaloor — the Blasters' homeground since the team's inception in 2014 — have been a major contributing factor. Blasters have been denied licence earlier too. They then paid penalties to secure a spot in subsequent ISL editions. The operation of a number of restaurants and eateries in the stadium complex might be one of the said issues, said a source. Earlier this year, a steamer blast in one of the restaurants in the stadium complex had left one person dead. 'The issue of shops storing explosive LPG cylinders was raised by the GCDA earlier. Plans to set up CNG supply to the shops is being implemented with the Indian Oil Corporation,' said K Chandran Pillai, the chairperson of Greater Cochin Development Authority, which owns the stadium. On match days, hundreds of vehicles parked around the stadium was also pointed out as a hindrance for evacuation during emergencies. The practice, however, continues. The club had earlier accused the GCDA of breaching NOC norms by hosting a mega dance programme last year, which it said had damaged the turf. The Blasters said they were in active discussions with the relevant authorities and were working to avoid any issues for the upcoming season. Mohammedan Sporting, Odisha FC, NorthEast United FC and Hyderabad FC are the other clubs denied the licence.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
FC Goa set up semis date with Mohun Bagan
Put to test against a full-strength in Kalinga Super Cup quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon, the reserve team of ISL double winners Super Giant came out with flying colours in Bhubaneswar. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The young and Indian-heavy side put up a gritty and spirited display of football at Kalinga Stadium to carve out a 2-1 victory over the Blasters. They booked a place in the semifinals against , who made a stunning comeback in the evening game to beat Punjab FC 2-1 with a stoppage-time winner from Mohammed Yasir. Trailing a spirited Punjab FC till the 89th minute, Goa's relentless attacks bore fruit when Borja Herrera drew level one minute from regulation time. As the match was heading to shootout to complete the semifinal line-up, Yasir broke Punjab FC's heart with a jaw-dropping strike three minutes into the second-half added time. Earlier, Norberto 'Pulga' Vidal had put Punjab in the lead with a 57th-minute strike but the Argentine striker's substitution late into the game backfired for Punjab as it took the pressure off Goa defence. Meanwhile, for the Mariners Sahal Abdul Samad opened the scoring midway through the first half while Suhail Ahmad Bhat doubled the lead early in the second. Constant pressure from the Blasters put paid when MS Sreekuttan pulled one back four minutes into the second-half added time. But it was too little, too late. Despite a barrage of attacks made by the Blasters frontline, Bagan stood firm with Nuno Reis – the only foreigner on Bagan roster on Sunday – showing true leadership quality on debut for the Mariners. The Portuguese centre-back, playing for the Kolkata giants after sitting out for almost eight months, made an instant impact guarding the backline with commendable support from his Indian teammates Dippendu Biswas, Saurabh Bhanwala and Amandeep. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Special mention should be made of goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, who was like a rolling rock under the bar gathering almost all the balls shot at Bagan goal. Bagan on the other hand had only three shots on target among the eight shots at goal while Kerala had seven on target among 18 efforts. However, precision and finesse of the Bagan attackers made all the difference. The first goal was sublime in nature. Player of the match Salahudheen Adnan beat Blasters left-back Naocha Singh with quick twists and turns before sending in a cross into the six-yard box. Sahal finally got the ball, and evading his marker Ruivah Hormipam with a superb first touch, took a turn and chipped it over goalkeeper Sachin Suresh to make it 1-0 in the 22nd minute. India international Ashique Kuruniyan crafted the second goal from the left flank. He sent in an inch-perfect ball into the six-yard box for Suhail, who guided it home with ease. Bagan could have scored their third but for the Glan Martins shot hitting the left post in the dying minutes of the game.
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Kalinga Super Cup: FC Goa set up semifinals date with Mohun Bagan
Put to test against a full-strength Kerala Blasters in the Super Cup quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon, an Indian-heavy Mohun Bagan Super Giant side came out with flying colours in Bhubaneswar. The young side – in many ways the reserve team of the ISL double winners – put up a gritty display of football at Kalinga Stadium to carve out a 2-1 victory over the Blasters. In doing so, they booked a place in the semis against FC Goa , who beat Punjab FC 2-1 with a stoppage-time winner from Mohammed Yasir. Sahal Abdul Samad opened the scoring midway through the first half for the Mariners, while Suhail Ahmad Bhat doubled the lead early in the second. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thousands Are Saving Money Using This Wall Plug elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Click Here Undo Constant pressure from the Blasters bore fruit when MS Sreekuttan pulled one back four minutes in added time. Despite a barrage of attacks made by the Blasters frontline, Bagan stood firm with Nuno Reis – the only foreigner on Bagan roster on Sunday – showing leadership quality on debut.
NDTV
26-04-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Mohun Bagan Beat Kerala Blasters, FC Goa Overcome Punjab FC To Enter Super Cup Semifinals
Indian Super League Shield and Cup winners Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) beat Kerala Blasters 2-1 to enter the Super Cup semifinals in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. MBSG, fielding an all-Indian squad, except for Portuguese defender Nuno Reis, scored once in each half through Sahal Abdul Samad (22nd minute) and Suhail Ahmad Bhat (51st). Sreekuttan MS (90 4) pulled one back for the Blasters, but it was too little, too late for the Kerala side. Later in the day, FC Goa produced a sensational late comeback to defeat Punjab FC 2-1 and book a semifinal date with MBSG on Wednesday. Punjab FC, who had taken the lead early in the second half through Ezequiel Vidal (57th), looked set for a famous win. However, two quick goals in the space of three minutes from Borja Herrera and Mohammed Yasir in the dying minutes turned the game on its head, leaving Punjab heartbroken. Earlier, the match between Mohun Bagan and Kerala Blasters began at a leisurely pace, with both teams not committing many bodies in the opposition half. After 20 minutes of no goal-mouth action, Mohun Bagan SG churned out the opener with their first meaningful attack. With lightning footwork, Salahudheen Adnan twisted and turned past left-back Naocha Singh and slipped a cross into the six-yard box. Getting on the end of it was Samad, who swiftly evaded Ruivah Hormipam's challenge and dinked the ball over goalkeeper Sachin Suresh to make it 1-0 in the 22nd minute. From then on Kerala Blasters grew desperate for the equaliser. Noah Sadaoui cut in from the right and took a shot from distance, but he didn't get enough elevation, and the ball landed straight into the gloves of MBSG goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh. The Blasters became increasingly dangerous from corners. In the 30th minute, after playing a one-two with Vibin Mohanan, Sadaoui drilled a low cross that was cleared by Dippendu Biswas. Later, from another corner, Hormipam's cross-turned-shot almost landed into the top corner, but Dheeraj did well to tip it over. In the added time of first half, Mohammed Aimen was fed on the left wing by Vibin. The midfielder cut in from the left before seeing his right-footer swerve over the bar. Before Kerala Blasters could even get into gear for the second half, Mohun Bagan SG struck another goal. Ashique Kuruniyan created the second goal from the left flank. The India international skipped past Hormipam and squared an inch-perfect ball into the six-yard box for Bhat to guide it into the net with ease. The rest of the second half was all about Dheeraj Singh keeping the Kerala Blasters forwards at bay, but it wasn't until after Jesus Jimenez missed a couple of gilt-edged chances -- half-volleying over the bar in the 65th minute and then curling it wide of the far post after going clean through on goal in the 67th. Three minutes later, Dheeraj palmed over substitute Kwame Peprah's right-footed shot from a narrow angle. With just five minutes to go, Peprah tried to set up Jimenez with a low cross into the six-yard box, but the Spaniard couldn't sort his feet out quickly enough and missed it completely. Dheeraj again made himself big to deny Peprah from six yards before Ebindas's attempt on the rebound was cleared off the line by Amandeep. The Mohun Bagan custodian was finally beaten in the 94th minute when Jimenez slipped a neat ball for Sreekuttan on the right. The substitute thrashed it over Dheeraj and into the back of the net, but it only turned out to be a consolation strike.
The Hindu
26-04-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Why is Adrian Luna not playing in Kerala Blasters' Super Cup 2025 encounter against Mohun Bagan?
Kerala Blasters captain Adrian Luna was not named in the starting eleven for the Super Cup 2025 clash against Mohun Bagan Super Giant at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. The Uruguayan did not train with the team ahead of the match after being substituted in the 57th minute of the Blasters' game against defending champion East Bengal, having picked up a knock just before halftime. Despite Luna's injury, the Yellow Army won 2-0, with goals from Jesus Jimenez and Noah Sadaoui. Sportstar understands that Luna's omission from the squad for the game against the ISL champion was a precaution, and his recovery over the coming days will determine if he can feature in the remaining matches should the Blasters qualify. The Blasters missed out on the ISL playoffs, finishing the 2024-25 season in eighth place with 29 points.
