Jesus Jimenez celebrates his goal for Kerala Blasters. Photo: X/Kerala Blasters FC Jesus Jimenez celebrates his goal for Kerala Blasters. Photo: X/Kerala Blasters FC An extra-time goal from Noah Sadaoui took Kerala Blasters to a thrilling 3-2 win over Odisha FC in the Indian Super League on Monday, January 13, 2025. (Highlights | More Football News)
Jesus Jimenez and Kwame Peprah were the other goal-scorers for the hosts, while Jerry Mawihmingthanga and Dorielton found the back of the net for the Kalinga Warriors.
The Blasters kept their hopes for a playoff spot alive and kicking with the victory, and are now placed eighth in the ISL standings with 20 points from 16 games. They are just behind Odisha, who have 21 points.
The Kalinga Warriors are now winless in their last four games, and the Kochi-based team is now unbeaten (W5 D2) in all seven games that Noah has found the back of the net in ISL 2024-25, as the home team netted thrice in the final half hour of the game.
The Kalinga Warriors made a positive start in the fourth minute, opting for a relatively direct route to surprise the Blasters defence. Once inside the box, Dorielton aerially overpowered Pritam Kotal to make a headed pass for Jerry Mawihmingthanga, who was in the middle of the 18-yard area.
Jerry covered a few crucial yards with a quick pace, made an impressive adjustment and deposited the ball into the bottom right corner with a slightly high-footed shot to open the scoring.
Odisha FC were equally effective at the back, making a coordinated effort to block Kwame Peprah’s shot from close range in the 36th minute. Noah Sadaoui shimmered into the box from the left flank before squaring up the delivery for Kwame, who tried to control, turn, and shoot, but was overpowered by the visitors’ backline.
𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨! 💥#KBFCOFC #ISL #LetsFootball #KeralaBlasters #KwamePeprah | @14Peprah @KeralaBlasters pic.twitter.com/Yf1SyC2bVc
wynn slots— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) January 13, 2025Peprah managed to pull an equaliser in his team’s favour in the 60th minute though. Korou Singh produced a creative through ball from the right flank that swung inside the Odisha FC defence. The pass was delivered at the perfect pace, but it was Peprah who outpaced Mourtada Fall and Rohit Kumar to get to the end of the pass and hammer it into the bottom left corner.
Kerala stepped up the ante of their attacking moves thereafter. In the 73rd minute, the entire frontline came to the fore to dissect the Odisha defence. Adrian Luna shifted to the right flank and curled in a cross for Noah Sadaoui on the far left post.
Sadaoui produced his smarts, making a headed pass to Jesus Jimenez at the centre rather than going for the goal. Jimenez met the assist perfectly, booting the ball to the high centre of the net and giving the home side the lead.
Odisha FC embraced a relentless look for a brief period following Jimenez’s strike. Diego Mauricio took a free-kick from the edge of the box down the centre, which was aimed perfectly at the top right corner, but saved in time by Sachin Suresh.
The ball was cleared but met Saviour Gama outside the 18-yard box. Gama unleashed a powerful effort that had to be saved by the Kerala Blasters FC goalkeeper at the high centre of the goal. Dori immediately pounced upon the rebound, depositing the ball into the net from an extremely close distance to level the scores in the 80th minute.
But their momentum was disrupted by Carlos Delgado getting sent off in the 83rd minute for picking his second yellow card. Kerala Blasters FC capitalised on this one-man advantage, by outnumbering the Odisha FC defence in the final third.
SAARI Faizal of Malaysia scored two goals for his side, while SAARI Fitri added another, and ANUAR Akhimullah opened the scoring in the first quarter.
They kept chasing the winner deep inside the added time of the second halfextreme gaming 88, with Noah delivering the finishing touch to enable them to get the three points from the night. Receiving a pass from Vibin Mohanan on the left side of the box, Noah perhaps understood the paucity of time in his hand and hurled a robust shot that had enough power to land onto the bottom right corner of the net despite being struck from an acute angle and taking a deflection.
