Kerala Blasters beat Inter Kashi 2-0 in ISL opener at Balewadi Stadium
Kerala Blasters FC defeated Inter Kashi FC 2-0 at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune on October 11, 2026, in their opening match of the 2026-27 Indian Super League season. Vibin Mohanan opened the scoring early and Andre Green added a stoppage-time strike as the Blasters began the season with three points and a clean sheet.
The match was the ISL opener for both sides and marked the first ISL fixture held at Balewadi in seven years, the last being in December 2019 when Pune City FC played. Inter Kashi were named to use Balewadi as their home ground only days before the game and arrived with minimal preparation, while Kerala Blasters had a longer preseason of about seven to eight days. Organisers had not carried out major pitch maintenance at short notice and the turf quality was described as poor from kickoff, with both teams frequently dispossessed and struggling to drive the ball.
The breakthrough came in the 18th minute when Korou Singh set up Vibin Mohanan, who finished from the centre of the box after a right‑flank run and cutback following a pass won by Freddy Lallawmawma. Kerala Blasters continued to create openings in the first half, with Andre Green and Freddy testing Inter Kashi’s goalkeeper, and Vibin combining his goal threat with an influential presence in midfield.
Inter Kashi’s attacking play was largely focused through Manvir Singh in the first half, but he often lacked support and the hosts produced a patchy opening 45 minutes. After the hydration break they increased the pressure, pressing the Blasters, forcing errors and entering the attacking third repeatedly, yet they struggled to convert chances without a consistent target man.
Andre Green sealed the result in the 93rd minute, finishing with his left foot from the centre of the box after a pass from Mohammed Sanan. Green had missed opportunities earlier in the match, and the Blasters’ defence also made errors at times despite keeping a clean sheet.
Manager Ashley Westwood commented on the post‑match podium: "Happy with the result obviously, 3 points and a clean sheet. Although maybe we didn’t deserve a clean sheet." Individual performances singled out in the report included Korou Singh, Vibin Mohanan, James Bolton and Nebojša Kosović, while several other players were assessed as below par.
Inter Kashi were credited with coming close to equalising in the final minutes but were criticised for a lack of coordination in the final third and for decision‑making and positioning that led to missed chances. Immediate work on those aspects was recommended for the team ahead of their forthcoming fixtures.
Kerala Blasters start the 2026-27 ISL campaign on a five‑match winning run in league competition, having won their last four matches of the 2025-26 season, and lead the ISL table with 3 points and a +2 goal difference. With the next match at Balewadi scheduled for the 17th, organisers indicated that immediate measures are imminent to improve the pitch quality and reduce the risk of player injuries.