The Indian Super League match will kick off at 7:30pm IST, and can be live streamed on the Jio Cinema app and website in India. It will be live telecast on the Sports18 network in India.
A 95th-minute goal from Filip Mrzljak proved to be the decisive one as Punjab FC earned three valuable points on the road against the Kerala Blasters in a bonafide thriller. Catch the highlights of the KBFC vs PFC match, right here
The Indian Super League match will kick off at 7:30pm IST, and can be live streamed on the Jio Cinema app and website in India. It will be live telecast on the Sports18 network in India.
Both teams have named their respective starting XIs and substitutes for the match. The big news is that Adrian Luna, KBFC's captain last season, does not find a place in their line-up. Milos Drincic will lead Blasters' charge, while Mushaga Bakenga will don the armband for Punjab.
KBFC and PFC have locked horns twice so far in the Indian Super League. This fixture marks the third encounter between the two sides, with each team securing one win in their previous meetings.
Kerala Blasters had earlier announced that only 50 per cent of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium capacity will be used for this match. “This decision was taken after discussions with the relevant stakeholders and reflects our commitment to supporting essential services and matchday operations partners whose hard work is vital to matchday operations,” the club had said in an official statement on Friday.
Play gets underway at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Despite the stadium capacity being halved, the Manjappada brigade is making itself heard in Kochi.
The first few minutes of action have not been too attack-oriented. The game has been midfield-heavy so far, and neither team has threatened to score, or even entered the final third purposefully yet.
The passes are beginning to get a bit more incisive from both teams, with the Blasters in particular trying to enter the Punjab box and Rahul KP in the thick of it all. But no genuine scoring chance has resulted yet.
We are nearing the end of the first half, and neither side has created a clear-cut goal-scoring opportunity yet. A lot of corners, crosses and through balls from Punjab as well as the Blasters, but nothing threatening enough for the goalie at either end.
Finally, we see some semblance of thrill in the game as Bekenga puts the ball into the back of the net after receiving a nice through ball from the edge of the box. But the assistant referee immediately raises his flag for offside and the goal does not hold.
The whistle blows at the 47-minute mark, as a sluggish first half ends without a goal from either side. Two minutes of injury time were added but the stalemate persists in Kochi, so far. We will be back soon with live updates from the second half.
KBFC's pursuit of a home win in their season opener resumes, as the second-half is kicked off. Peprah and Aimen have been substituted in favour of Jimenez and Vibin for the Blasters. Punjab are happy to go in with the same line-up as at the end of the first half. They would be happy to escape with a draw, with it being an away fixture, and have played like that to some extent.
Noah lets a long shot rip from left of the goal, and Punjab goalie Ravi Kumar does really well to dive across his goal and parry the ball out of trouble. First real chance for KBFC, by way of a promising shot at goal. They need more of these if they are to force a win at home tonight.
Punjab FC have substituted their captain Bakenga for Majcen, who is now wearing the skippers' armband too.
PFC's winger Nihal Sudeesh has been booked for a challenge on Noah. The 23-year-old Nihal is with Punjab on loan from the side he is facing tonight - the Kerala Blasters.
The Blasters bring in Aiban for Sandeep, and PFC induct Augustine in place of Vinit. The customary mid-half drinks break follows.
It is now the turn of KBFC's Pritam Kotal to receive a yellow card. The 31-year-old India defender is booked for holding back Majcen.
Surprise, surprise. It is PFC who take the lead in Kochi, as the Manjappada crowd is stunned into silence. Punjab earn a penalty against the run of play with Leon Augustine being fouled inside the box. Luka Macjen steps up and converts from the spot with a powerful shot in the bottom left corner. Macjen is soon booked for taking off his shirt while celebrating, but he might not care as long as Punjab win.
The Blasters equalize in the second minute of added time. Pritam Kotal shapes in a pinpoint cross from the right flank, and Jimenez leaps to head the ball home. The Nehru Stadium is buzzing again.
After 80 minutes of uneventful football, we have witnessed an absolutely thrilling last 15 minutes at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. Moments after Jimenez's equalizer, Filip Mrzljak strikes back for Punjab with just a minute left on the clock. Goalscorer Majcen finds Mrzljak with a visionary ball inside the box, and the 31-year-old Croatian slots it in with a sliding finish from a tricky angle. The Manjappada supporters are silenced again, and Punjab FC are set to clinch a late humdinger.
Drama, and more drama now in Kochi as Rahul KP earns a yellow card for a reckless challenge on Majcen. Play is halted for a while due to the collision which floors both floors. There is next to no time left, and sure enough, the full-time whistle rings out soon after resumption as Punjab rejoice. The visitors have snatched an unlikely victory against the Blasters, who appear shell shocked, especially after scoring what they would have thought was a point-sealing equalizer. In the end, Mrzljak's superb late strike proves to be the difference.
After an extraordinary finish in Kochi, the Indian Super League caravan now rolls on to Kolkata, where Mohammedan SC will host NorthEast United on Monday (September 16) at 7:30pm IST. We will be back with live updates from that encounter, as also all the hockey action in the Asian Champions Trophy, where India will take on South Korea in the semi-finals. Until then, goodbye.