Kochi: Blasters coach Ivan Vukomanovic dressed the team by giving preference to experience. Both teams played in 4-4-2 formation. Apart from Apostolos Giannu and Dimitrias Diamantakos, the remaining nine players played last season.
Prabhsukhan Gill was the goalkeeper. In defense were the Croatian Marko Leskovic and the Indian player Hormipam. Captain Jezel Carneiro and Harmanjot Khabra stood on either side. Puitia and Jackson Singh join Adrian Luna and Sahl Abdul Samad in the midfield. They also had the responsibility to play defensively.
Kamaljit Singh is the goalkeeper of East Bengal who came under the former coach of India, Stephen Constantine. Spanish Ivan Gonzalez became the main player in defense. Lalchungnua, Ankit Mukherjee and Karis Kiriakou were also present. Alex Lima, Souvik Chakraborty and Tuhin Das are in the midfield. The hero is Brazilian Clayton Silva and Malayalam actor V.P. Zuhair and Sumeet Pasi are on the move.
The game heated up with East Bengal’s moves. In the third minute, Zuhair shot a ball from Alex Lima but his weak shot went wide. The Blasters’ counter-move soon followed. Puitia extended the ball from the middle of the field to Carneiro on the left.
The cross was aimed at Jianu but the ball was not high enough to reach. In the sixth minute, the Yellow Army came close to scoring. Leskovic was unable to put Luna’s corner header into the net. Kolkata’s counter-attack in the 8th minute shocked the Blasters. The shot fired by Lima, who advanced alone, was bravely blocked by goalkeeper Gill.
In the 18th minute, Blasters threatened the opposition once more. This time a move from the right towards Sahal. The Malayalee player gave the ball to the box but the East Bengal defense avoided the danger. Jezel got the ball and shot but the result was disappointing.
Meanwhile, in the 20th minute, Lima’s corner was limited to Gill’s goal. In the 26th minute, Blasters came close to scoring once more. Sahl’s progress. Puitia’s ball from the midfielder missed the target.
In the second half, Blasters came out strong. In the 49th minute, Kamaljith saved Jianu’s smashing shot. In the 53rd minute, Luna’s goal attempt was also foiled by the Kolkatan goalie. Kamaljeet made four saves in five minutes. In the 58th minute, Jianu caught the ball prepared by Puitia and this time the result was disappointing. The ball flew over the net. Meanwhile, East Bengal’s counter-attacks were countered by the Yellow Army’s defence. KP replaced Sahal in the 70th minute. Rahul was dropped. Then the first goal was scored. In the 75th minute Puitia’s close-range shot missed the target. With Ivan Kaliushny replacing Giannu and Bidyasagar replacing Puitia, it got heated once more.
