Kerala Blasters start a new era with a 2-0 win over Inter Kashi in their ISL opener

Kerala Blasters began their new era under new ownership with a 2-0 win over Inter Kashi in the opening match of the 2026-27 Indian Super League season in Pune on Sunday. Vibin Mohanan opened the scoring in the 18th minute before Andre Green struck in the fourth minute of stoppage time to give Ashley Westwood’s side a winning start after a game in which Inter Kashi made them work for the points.

For the Blasters, the result offers an early start after a difficult season and late preparation for the new season. UAE-based Al Fursan Sports Investment Group took over the club and brought new expectations to a side whose supporters had waited years for an ISL title. The squad has been overhauled but the opening match showed there is still work to be done before Kerala can turn that promise into a sustained challenge.

Inter Kashi, meanwhile, began their campaign after a troubled build-up. The club spent much of the pre-season dealing with financial uncertainty, FIFA transfer bans and finding a suitable home base. They ended up registering 22 players, all Indians, after transfer restrictions were briefly lifted to face another ban before the start of the season. Their defeat was not without encouraging moments, but a late goal left them with little reward for the fight they had shown.

VIBIN MEANS

Mohanan put Kerala ahead in the 18th minute, finishing with his right foot from the center of the box after being picked out by Korou Singh. The goal rewarded the Blasters’ positive start and gave them an advantage which they maintained for most of the game, even as Inter Kashi continued to threaten.

The 23-year-old midfielder came through the Kerala Blasters youth set-up and established himself as one of the club’s promising home-grown players. Born in Thrissur, he joined the academy in 2020 and made his senior team debut in the 2022-23 season. He represented India at youth level, including the SAFF Under-20 Championship and the AFC Under-20 Asian Cup qualifying campaign, earning a call-up to the senior national team in 2024. He also trained with Greek club OFI Crete in 2023, where he gained experience outside of Indian football.

Mohanan’s opener mattered as Kerala could never put the match out of reach until the final minutes. Freddy Lallawmawma fired home from distance in the fifth minute as Inter Kashi responded through Rosenberg Gabriel, whose effort from the left side of the box was saved by goalkeeper Arsh Shaikh. Manvir Singh also sent an attempt over the bar.

Inter Kashi were still looking for an equalizer after falling behind. Manvir forced another save from Shaikh in the 35th minute while Kerala created chances of their own through Lallawmawma and Korou. Albino Gomes saved Lallawmawma’s effort before being denied by Korou in first-half stoppage time. Kerala went into the break ahead but the game was still wide open.

INTER KASHI FIGHT THROUGH THE CHAOS

Inter Kashi’s problems began long before the first match. Their main investor decided not to continue after last season, leaving the club to look for new investment. According to KhelNow reports, before the kick-off, the team did not start the pre-season as the preparations were already late. The club also had to put together much of their squad in a short window once transfer bans were lifted.

FIFA has imposed four separate registration bans over unpaid fees to former players. Inter Kashi cleared these payments and the restrictions were lifted in early October, allowing them to register 22 players, including 16 new players. But another ban followed after the outstanding payment to former player Lluis Tarres Campos. The club completed the squad registration before the latest cut came into effect, although two other players remained unregistered. The result was an all-India team for the start of the season.

Their domestic arrangements added another complication. Inter Kashi explored playing in Ranchi before settling on the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune. For the Varanasi-based club, this means starting a campaign away from their home city, without the familiarity and local support that can make a difference over the course of a long season.

On the field, however, Inter Kashi had no shortage of opportunities. Manvir’s header in the 61st minute was saved by Shaikh, in the 72nd Ayush Chhikara fired just wide. Kerala also had a chance to extend their lead, substitute Momo Yansane tried wide and Green went close in the 65th minute. But at 1-0, Inter Kashi stayed within a point.

Their late intervention never produced an equaliser. Sumit Sharma headed in from a corner in the 80th minute and Kerala’s defense held as the visitors looked for a breakthrough. The Blasters had to stay on their toes until Green finally settled the game in stoppage time.

Mohammed Sanan delivered a pass in the fourth minute of added time and Green finished with his left foot into the bottom right corner to make it 2-0. A late strike gave Kerala a more comfortable score, although the match required patience till the end.

For Kerala, the real test begins now. New ownership may bring new ambitions, but the Blasters will be judged by what they do on the pitch in the coming months. Inter Kashi, meanwhile, already had battles to fight before their season could properly begin. They showed enough in Pune to suggest they won’t be easy to brush aside, but with so much to settle on the pitch, turning promise into points will be their biggest challenge.

Kerala will now travel to Guwahati to face North East United on October 18 with a chance to build on their winning start. Inter Kashi return to Pune for their next match against Odisha FC on October 17, hoping to convert the encouraging spells they showed against Blasters into a first result.

– The end