Bhubaneswar, April 26 – The Kalinga Stadium is electric, but Kerala Blasters are staring down a tough deficit. Sixty minutes into their Kalinga Super Cup 2025 quarter-final clash against Mohun Bagan Super Giant, the scoreline reads 0-2, and the Blasters are scrambling to find their footing. A young, scrappy Mohun Bagan side, stripped of their usual foreign stars, has come out swinging, proving they’re no pushovers despite the experimental lineup.
The game kicked off at a blistering pace. Mohun Bagan, fielding just one foreigner—Portuguese defender Nuno Reis—wasted no time asserting dominance. In the 22nd minute, Sahal Abdul Samad, the midfielder who’s been itching for more game time, broke the deadlock. A pinpoint cross from Salahudheen Adnan K sailed over the Blasters’ defense, landing perfectly for Sahal. With his back to goal, he spun and lobbed a cheeky shot over keeper Sachin Suresh, who could only watch it nestle into the net. The Mariners’ bench erupted, and the Blasters looked rattled.
Kerala, coming off a commanding 2-0 win over defending champions East Bengal in the round of 16, tried to hit back. Noah Sadaoui, the Moroccan winger, was a constant menace, darting down the flanks and firing a venomous shot from outside the box in the 28th minute. But Mohun Bagan’s keeper, Dheeraj Singh, stood tall, parrying it away. A minute later, Hormipam Ruivah nearly leveled things with a thumping header, only for Dheeraj to pull off an acrobatic save that left the Blasters’ fans groaning.
The second half brought no relief for Kerala. Just six minutes after the restart, Mohun Bagan doubled their lead. Details on the scorer are scarce, but the goal came from a swift counter, exposing gaps in the Blasters’ backline. Coach David Catala, who’s been preaching discipline since taking the helm, cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines, urging his players to tighten up. A substitution followed, with Mohammed Aimen making way for Kwame Peprah, but the change did little to stem the tide.
Mohun Bagan’s youthful squad, led by assistant coach Bastab Roy in place of Jose Molina, is leaning on homegrown talent like Ashique Kuruniyan and Deepak Tangri. They’ve pressed high and tackled hard, turning the game into a physical slog. Kerala’s Jesus Jimenez and Milos Drincic have struggled to connect, their long-ball tactics fizzling against a compact Bagan defense. The Blasters have had chances—Sadaoui’s runs and Hormipam’s set-piece threat—but nothing’s clicked.
The match, part of a knockout tournament that switched from a group stage format this year, is a high-stakes affair. The winner books a semi-final spot, while the loser heads home. Mohun Bagan earned a bye in the round of 16 after Churchill Brothers withdrew, giving them fresh legs for this clash. Kerala, meanwhile, rode goals from Jimenez and Sadaoui to oust East Bengal on April 20, but that form feels distant now.
As the clock ticks past the hour mark, the Blasters are pushing for a lifeline. The crowd, a sea of yellow and white, roars for a comeback, but Mohun Bagan’s green-and-maroon wall holds firm. The referee’s whistle looms, and Kerala’s hopes hang by a thread.