Here are the games this week, with their reports below (latest match first):
14 Mar: East Bengal FC vs Kerala Blasters FC (5 PM) and Bengaluru FC vs Mohun Bagan SG (7.30 PM)
15 Mar: NorthEast United FC vs Jamshedpur FC (5 PM] and Inter Kashi vs Mumbai City FC (7.30 PM)
16 Mar: Punjab FC vs FC Goa (7.30 PM)
East Bengal FC 1 – 1 Kerala Blasters FC
(Youssef Ezzejjari (P) 10′ – Muhammad Ajsal 90+2′)
Kerala Blasters earned their first points of the season, scoring an injury-time equaliser to nick the points off East Bengal, who had led for much of the game. The result moved the Blasters into twelfth place, while East Bengal climbed to third.
Kerala Blasters had the worst possible start to the game when Aiban conceded a penalty in the ninth minute of the game for a foul on Youssef Ezzejjari, though replays suggested the striker may have been marginally offside. The Moroccan then stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way, handing East Bengal an early lead. The hosts failed to press home their advantage, and Blasters grew into the game, with Danish Farooq and Kévin Yoke coming close. They nearly equalized on the stroke of half-time when Fallou Ndiaye sent a free header narrowly wide from a corner, but East Bengal took a 1-0 lead going into the break.
The game continued in similar fashion after the break, with East Bengal unable to make their possession count, while the Blasters looked to hit on the break. Substitute Jai Quitongo almost had an instant impact after the hour mark, but his low cross into the box narrowly evaded Muhammad Ajsal. However, Ajsal was not to be denied as he scored the Blasters’ equaliser in injury time. The striker was left all alone in the box from Ebindas Yesudasan‘s corner and all he had to do was guide a header down and into the net, thus earning the Blasters a precious draw.
