Late Magic in Kolkata: Ajsal’s Stoppage-Time Header Earns Kerala Blasters a Point

The Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) was prepared for a Red and Gold celebration, but the "Yellow Army" had other plans. On Saturday, March 14, 2026, East Bengal and Kerala Blasters played out a pulsating 1-1 draw in the Indian Super League.

For over 80 minutes, East Bengal looked poised to secure all three points after an early penalty from Youssef Ezzejjari. However, a lack of defensive concentration in the final seconds allowed 22-year-old Muhammad Ajsal to score his first-ever ISL goal—a dramatic 92nd-minute header—securing Kerala Blasters' first point of the 2025-26 season.

Game Snapshot: East Bengal vs. Kerala Blasters (March 14, 2026)

While East Bengal controlled the early tempo, Kerala Blasters' resilience in the second half ultimately paid off in the dying embers of the match.

Metric	East Bengal FC	Kerala Blasters FC
Final Score	1	1
Possession	52%	48%
The Goals	Ezzejjari (10’ P)	Ajsal (90+2’)
Player of Match	-	Muhammad Ajsal
Record	2W, 2D, 1L (7 Pts)	0W, 1D, 4L (1 Pt)

1. The Early Breakthrough: Ezzejjari Strikes

East Bengal started with high intensity, pressing the Blasters' backline from the opening whistle.

• The Penalty: In the 10th minute, Edmund Lalrindika squared a ball to Youssef Ezzejjari, who was brought down by Aibanbha Dohling inside the area.

• The Finish: Ezzejjari stepped up and calmly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, handing East Bengal a 1-0 lead and igniting the Kolkata crowd.

2. The Blasters’ Resilience

Despite trailing early and facing a hostile atmosphere, David Català’s men refused to buckle.

• Defensive Shift: Debutant Fallou Ndiaye and Hormipam Ruivah managed to keep the dangerous duo of Ezzejjari and Miguel Ferreira largely quiet for the remainder of the match.

• Growing Influence: As the second half progressed, the Blasters grew in confidence, with Kevin Yoke proving to be a constant menace on the wings.

3. 90+2: The Ajsal Header

With East Bengal seemingly coasting to a 1-0 win, disaster struck for the hosts during a corner in injury time.

• The Moment: Ebindas Yesudasan delivered a perfect cross into the box.

• The Goal: Muhammad Ajsal found himself unmarked and climbed highest to head the ball past Prabhsukhan Gill, silencing the stadium and securing a massive point for the visitors.

4. FAQs

Q1. What was the East Bengal vs Kerala Blasters score today?

Ans: The match ended in a 1-1 draw on March 14, 2026.

Q2. Who scored the goals in the East Bengal vs Kerala Blasters match?

Ans: Youssef Ezzejjari scored for East Bengal (10th-minute penalty), and Muhammad Ajsal scored the equalizer for Kerala Blasters (92nd minute).

Q3. Is this Kerala Blasters' first point of the ISL season?

Ans: Yes. After four consecutive losses, this draw earns the Blasters their first point of the 2025-26 ISL season.

Q4. Where can I watch the Kerala Blasters highlights?

Ans: Highlights are available on the Indian Super League (ISL) YouTube channel and the JioCinema/FanCode apps.

Q5. Who is East Bengal playing next?

Ans: East Bengal will face Mohammedan SC on Saturday, March 21, 2026, in another highly anticipated Kolkata clash.

Conclusion

The East Bengal vs Kerala Blasters score March 14 2026 is a bitter pill to swallow for the Red and Gold Brigade, who appeared to have the win in the bag. For the Kerala Blasters, however, this draw feels like a victory—a potential turning point that gets them off the bottom of the table.