Kerala Blasters 1-1 NorthEast United Highlights, ISL: Highlanders Rescue Late Draw Against Tuskers

Good evening, football fans! This is the start of our live blog covering Kerala Blasters’ ISL match against NorthEast United. Stay tuned for pre-match updates and line-ups as they are released.

• Fixture: Kerala Blasters vs NorthEast United FC

• Series: Indian Super League 2025-26

• Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi

• Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026

• Time: 7:30 PM IST

In case you missed it, there's an ongoing battle between Kerala Blasters and their official fan group, the Manjappada (Yellow Army). The group has vowed to boycott all home matches of KBFC after complaints about their team's poor showings. In fact, the group – which has more almost 12 lakh followers on social media – has returned their accreditation cards.

The players are out of the tunnels and take their formation on the pitch. The referee blows his whistle, and it's NorthEast United who take the kick-off to get tonight's ISL match underway.

NorthEast United have made a blistering start to the half, pushing the Blasters defence back in their own penalty area. The Highlanders win a corner on the left, with the ball being floated in towards the middle. Andy gets his head on the ball, but it flies over the bar.

Kerala Blasters seem to have found their footing in the match. A short pass by Vibin to Jitin is returned to the former, who floats in a lofted ball into the box where Freddy has a snatched effort. However, it flies just over the post.

Kevin Yoke is proving to be a menace down the left flank, and the Frenchman plays a cross that is cleared – with some difficulty – by the NorthEast defence. However, a good release almost sends Ashraf through, but Fallou Ndiaye makes a superb last-man tackle to clear the danger.

We are 10 minutes away from the end of regulation time, and we are yet to see the first shot on target from either side. NorthEast United have enjoyed more of the ball (58%), but for all their domination, they are yet to test Arsh's goal.

That was the change for NorthEast United to take the lead!! Good work by Jithin, who cuts in on his left and floats in a terrific ball into the box. Parthib Gogoi comes sliding and almost gets a toe-end at the ball, but misses it by inches.

An own goal puts Kerala Blasters ahead against the run of play!! A grounded free-kick finds its way to Benarif on the right, whose ball into the box is met by a header by Fallou Ndiaye. The Senegales takes a brilliant bicycle kick. Gogoi's clearance hits the back of Andy Rodriguez and goes into the back of the net.

The referee blows his whistle, and Kerala Blasters go into the break with a one-goal lead. NorthEast United's body language has really dropped since going down, and Juan Pedro Benali needs to get his players' head right before the second half.

The players are out of the tunnels and take their places on the pitch. Kerala Blasters take the kick-off to get the second half underway. No changes at the break for either side as far as I can see.

It seems like Benali's half-time talks haven't worked, as Kerala Blasters have continued to trouble the NorthEast United defence. Yoke is especially proving tough to handle for Jithin and Redeem. When will Benali turn to the bench?

What a chance for Yoke to double Kerala Blasters' lead!! A ball from the Blasters half should have been an easy take for Samte, but Yoke picks his pockets and runs with the ball. Facing Arsh in front of him, Yoke opts for placement over power, and hits the bottom of the right post.

NorthEast are pushing hard for an equaliser. The Highlanders win a free-kick inside the Kerala Blasters half, and Andy floats in a ball towards the middle of the box. However, Fallou Ndiaye uses his power to clear the danger away.

If any team looks likely to score the next goal, it's Kerala Blasters. A ball towards the left Fueillassier is received by the substitute, but a strong challenge from the defender clearns the danger for the moment.

Lalrinzuala Lalbiaknia with a goal at the death for NorthEast United. A long ball from near the half-way line almost finds the run of a Highlanders striker. Arsh comes running out and gets a flying header, but only as far as Robin Yadav. The substitute takes a lobbed shotfrom some distance away, and it crashes against the bar. Rinzuala is at the right place at the right time to poke it into an empty net.

Both teams give their all in search for the winner in the five minutes of added time, but the referee blows his whistle to bring the match to an end. Kerala Blasters will be happy with the point, although they feel like this is a match that they could have won. NorthEast, meanwhile, will be happy with the draw considering they failed to test Arsh for most of the game.