Durand Cup: Kerala Blasters win against Air Force 5-0
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Kolkata: Kerala Blasters exhibited a resounding display of football prowess as they sealed their Durand Cup journey with a commanding 5-0 triumph over the Indian Air Force Football Team in Kolkata on Monday.
The match saw Bidhyasagar Singh shine with a remarkable hat trick, underscoring Kerala's dominance on the field.
The contest's early minutes witnessed Mohammed Aimen initiate the scoring in the ninth minute, firing a remarkable long-range strike. Swiftly following suit, Bidhyasagar Singh found the net in the 12th minute, benefiting from Danish Farooq's assistance. Farooq himself made his presence felt, scoring in the 57th minute. The spotlight, however, remained on Bidhyasagar Singh as he clinched his hat-trick with goals in the 62nd and 82nd minutes.
The victory underscored Kerala Blasters' superiority, resulting in the accumulation of four points from three Group C matches.
In parallel, Gokulam Kerala's consecutive victories propelled them into the quarterfinals from Group C, holding an additional match to their credit.
Bidyashagar Singh emerged as the star player for Kerala Blasters, orchestrating a hat-trick that spearheaded the Indian Super League (ISL) side's commanding win against the Indian Air Force Football Team. This impressive victory marked the conclusion of Kerala Blasters' Durand Cup campaign.
The early stages of the game saw Kerala Blasters establish their dominance by swiftly securing a two-goal advantage. Mohammed Aimen and Bidyashagar Singh were the architects behind these early strikes, setting the tone for Kerala's relentless offensive momentum. The yellow-clad brigade exhibited cohesive teamwork, consistently applying pressure on the Indian Air Force team.
Newly-signed striker Ishan Pandita's substitution during the first half appeared to be a tactical maneuver by the Blasters.
Bidyashagar Singh's goal contributions extended further as he added one more before halftime, solidifying Kerala Blasters' control over the match. Mohammed Aimen consistently outmaneuvered his defenders and created opportunities for his team within the penalty box.
The second half saw Danish Farooq further extending Kerala Blasters' lead with the fourth goal, setting the stage for Bidyashagar Singh to complete his hat-trick and secure an emphatic victory for the Blasters.
The Tuskers' participation in the Durand Cup ended with this commanding win, following previous outcomes of a 4-3 loss to Gokulam Kerala FC and a 2-2 draw against a youthful Bengaluru FC in their initial two matches. Consequently, the team incorporated multiple changes to their starting lineup for their clash against the Indian Air Force team.
Danish Farooq, a standout player for the Blasters, extended their advantage in the 57th minute before Bidyashagar Singh demonstrated his prowess once again, securing a header to further amplify Kerala's lead to 4-0. The striker's sensational hat-trick was completed in the 82nd minute, as he tapped in a rebound after the goalkeeper saved Mohammed Azhar's long-distance effort.