Kerala Blasters FC are considered to be one of the most consistent teams in Indian Super League as they have made it into the final two times in three seasons. However, they also finished bottom of the table in between those successful seasons.Kerala Blasters have got everything, their co-owner is none other than Sachin Tendulkar and of course with the cheers that they get from the loud and passionate fans who are ready to support the team at any extreme, the Kerala Blasters make up a formidable force.
After the FC Kochin era, Kerala finally got to see thousands of fans coming to the stadium for a football match, which is something that the now dissolved Viva Kerala could not manage to do.
This season is indeed more exciting for the fans as their favourite player Iain Hume is back on the roster. The management finally released the most anticipated official club jersey for the fans just for Rs 499.
Here we try to sum up the top 5 Kerala Blasters games of all time in the history of ISL. The vast majority of their best performance came in Kochi only. Which shows the strength that the Blasters get whenever they play in front of their huge number of ardent fans in Kochi.
#5 Kerala Blasters vs Chennaiyin FC (JLN Stadium Kochi)
Date: 12 November 2016
Result: Kerala Blasters 3-1 Chennaiyin FC
It was CK Vineeth's first game for the Blasters in the third edition of ISL as he was away with then I-League outfit Bengaluru FC for AFC Cup campaign. However, a brace in his very first game scripted a remarkable comeback from Kerala Blasters after being a goal down to thrash Chennaiyin FC 3-1. Earlier, Bernard Mendy put the Super Machans in the lead, while super sub Didier Kadio equalised for the Yellow Army in front of more than 50,000 cheering fans at the JLN Stadium in Kochi.
#4 Delhi Dynamos vs Kerala Blasters (JLN Stadium Delhi)
Date: 03 December 2015
Result: Delhi Dynamos 3-3 Kerala Blasters
Kerala Blasters held Delhi Dynamos to a 3-3 draw after a being a goal down at JLN Stadium Delhi. Though Kerala were already out of contention, the team put up a spirited performance in their last match of the season. Chris Dagnall, Joi Coimbra and Antonio Germain found the back of the net for the visitors, while Gustavo Santos, Adil Nabi and a goal from Sehnaj Singh at the dying minutes of the match handed the semi-finalists the fourth draw in the season. Kerala Blasters finished bottom of the table after the match while Delhi managed fourth place.
#3 Kerala Blasters vs Northeast United (JLN Stadium Kochi)
Date: 06 October 2015
Result: Kerala Blasters 3-1 Northeast United
The opening game for Kerala Blasters saw them emerging as winners against NorthEast United in front of 60,017-strong crowd at the JLN Stadium in Kochi. One goal each from Josu Currias, Keralite Mohammed Rafi and Sanches Watt took away the game from thee Highlanders who got a consolation goal from Argentine Nico Velez.
Though Kerala managed a bright start to the season, they could not carry the momentum along and ultimately occupied the bottom position of the table. They are the first ISL team to sack their coach during the season as they dismissed coach Peter Taylor after a series of dismal performance. However, this could not change their fortune of becoming the bottom-placed team.
#2 Kerala Blasters vs Chennaiyin FC (JLN Stadium Kochi)
Date: 13 December 2014
Result: Kerala Blasters 3-0 Chennaiyin FC
The first leg semi-final match of the inaugural season of Indian Super League saw Kerala Blasters registering a stunning 3-0 triumph over Chennaiyin FC at JLN Stadium in Kochi. Ishfaq Ahmed broke the deadlock for the Men in Yellow in the 27th minute, before fan favourite Iain Hume doubled the lead just two minutes later. Sushant Mathew's world-class goal at the 90th minutes completed the score sheet for the hosts. Sushant's goal remained one of the best goals ever in ISL history.
Though Kerala lost 3-1 in the reverse leg, the performance in the first leg was enough to take them into maiden ISL final.However, Mohammed Rafeeq's late goal claimed the inaugural season's title for Atletico de Kolkata.
#1 Northeast United vs Kerala Blasters (IGA Stadium Guwati)
Date: 15 November 2015
Result: Northeast United 1-4 Kerala Blasters
Interestingly Kerala Blasters' highest ever scoring match came in the second season where the team ultimately finished at the bottom of the table. A brace from Chris Dagnall and one goal each from Cavin Lobo handed the blasters a thumbing 4-1 victory against NorthEast United FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati. As in the first leg which Kerala won 3-1, this time also Argentine Nicolas Velez scored the consolation goal for the hosts in front of 27,432 disappointed fans.