Sat Jan 18 14:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Kerala Blasters’ Aibanbha Ejected in Tense ISL Match Against NorthEast United
**KOCHI, INDIA** – Kerala Blasters FC faced a setback in their Indian Super League (ISL) clash against NorthEast United FC at the JLN Stadium in Kochi on Saturday, with Aibanbha Dohling receiving a direct red card for a physical altercation. The match, broadcast live on Star Sports 3, Sports18, and Asianet, and streamed on JioCinema, saw a flurry of chances for both sides, but ultimately ended with a numerical disadvantage for the home team.
The first half was marked by several near misses and a tense atmosphere. NorthEast United’s Bekey Oram forced a crucial save from Kerala Blasters’ goalkeeper Sachin Suresh, while Kerala Blasters’ top scorer, Alaaeddine Ajaraie, also tested Suresh’s abilities. The tension escalated when a tussle between Ajaraie and Dohling inside the Kerala Blasters box resulted in Dohling’s dismissal, leaving Kerala Blasters to play the majority of the match with ten men. The referee deemed a headbutt the final action leading to the ejection. Further adding to the tension, NEUFC’s Bemammer received a yellow card for a foul on Sadaoui.
The second half continued the high-octane atmosphere with several close calls at both ends. Ajaraie narrowly missed scoring despite beating the offside trap, and Adrian Luna’s quick free-kick was thwarted. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Kerala Blasters managed to create several scoring opportunities, although they were unable to find the back of the net.
In a separate ISL match earlier in the day, Hyderabad FC and Bengaluru FC ended their encounter in a 1-1 draw, with Sunil Chhetri equalizing for Bengaluru FC after Devedra Murgaonkar’s first-half goal for Hyderabad. This result dampened Bengaluru FC’s title aspirations. The Kerala Blasters versus NorthEast United FC game concluded with a final score not specified in the provided text.
First Piper 