The Kerala Blasters fans can expect a clamour from players wanting to be named on the bench because everyone that steps out of the dugout seems to bring goals. Like Jesus Jimenez last week, Kwame Peprah too got a goal off the bench against East Bengal on Sunday. His strike in the 88th minute, was however the winner in a 2-1 in front of nearly 30,000 supporters at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium at Kaloor in Kochi.
Mikael Stahre can now prepare for a run of three away matches with his first three points in Indian football. Just as last week, the Blasters had entertained but significantly underperformed the xG. It might come to haunt them during the travels.
Noah Sadaoui's arrival had the Manjappada excited in pre-season. The Morrocan, efficient at playing across the front three, looked ambitious all night, fighting for loose balls and taking on defenders, but struggled to find space on the left wing for longer periods. He did for once shortly after the hour and would do so a handful of times in the dying moments when East Bengal pushed ahead while trailing. That one time, he sold a dummy to Mohamad Rakip before cutting onto his favoured left and firing low into the far corner of Prabhsukhan Gill's goal. For the fans, it was time to skip off their seats and for the Blasters management that was vindication of money well spent in the summer.
Just as against Punjab, the Blasters had found a quick response after going behind. East Bengal had conjured up their share of magic on the night from a substitute born in north Kerala. P V Vishnu couldn't have asked for an easier finish when former Blasters striker Dimitrios Diamantakos placed it on a platter for him with a low cross across. The Kasaragod striker, who made headlines first with a dazzling display for Team Kerala in the Santosh Trophy a few years ago, gave the Blasters' defence a few nervous moments with his pace.
The visitors had managed to keep in check the wave after wave of Blasters' attacks in the second half. They had been second best in the first period, during which time the Blasters saw Jesus hit the post and Rahul KP glance his header narrowly wide. It was Stahre's idea of having Vibin Mohanan in from the start after his impressive showing in a substitute appearance against Punjab that reflected in the Blasters' performance in the first half. With Nandha Kumar managing to find pockets on the right, East Bengal managed to tilt the advantage in their favour for a brief spell.
But Noah's equaliser that re-energised the home side, and the arrival of Peprah on 75 minutes, infused a sense of urgency in the crowd. With more numbers in the final third, the Blasters threatened and Peprah found himself unmarked and with a gap to shoot. His strike, while neatly placed into a corner, was aided by the poor positioning of Prabhsukhan Gill in the East Bengal goal.
Stahre had made four changes from the loss against Punjab. Besides, Jesus and Vibin, Naocha Singh and Danish Farooq added freshness to the Blasters XI. For being a live-wire throughout and so nearly scoring at the end of a darting run, Naocha is unlikely to surrender his place at left-back anytime soon. Farooq, though, could easily lose his position when club captain Adrian Luna returns.
