Kerala Blasters start new-ownership era with 2-0 win over Inter Kashi in ISL opener
Kerala Blasters began life under new ownership with a 2-0 victory over Inter Kashi in the opening match of the 2026-27 Indian Super League season in Pune on Sunday, Vibin Mohanan scoring in the 18th minute and Andre Green adding a stoppage-time second. The win gave Ashley Westwood’s side a winning start to the campaign after a contest in which Inter Kashi made them work for the points.
UAE-based Al Fursan Sports Investment Group has taken control of Kerala Blasters, a change that followed a difficult period for the club and a late pre-season build-up. The squad has been overhauled ahead of the new season, but the opening result showed there is more to be done before the team can convert that rebuilding into a sustained challenge. Inter Kashi arrived in Pune after a troubled preparation marked by financial uncertainty, multiple FIFA registration bans and a search for a suitable home venue. Those off-field issues left them fielding an all-Indian squad for the first match after a short window to register players.
Mohanan put Kerala ahead in the 18th minute, finishing right-footed from the centre of the box after Korou Singh picked him out, a goal that provided the Blasters with a lead they maintained until the final moments. Inter Kashi continued to threaten throughout, preventing Kerala from easing the contest until the second goal. Green’s strike arrived in the fourth minute of stoppage time to make the final score 2-0.
The goalscorer Mohanan is a 23-year-old who progressed through Kerala Blasters’ youth system; he was born in Thrissur, joined the club’s academy in 2020 and made his senior debut in the 2022-23 season. His background includes appearances for India at youth level — the SAFF Under-20 Championship and AFC Under-20 Asian Cup qualifying campaign — a senior national-team call-up in 2024 and training time with Greek club OFI Crete in 2023.
The match featured several early chances for both sides: Freddy Lallawmawma fired over in the fifth minute, Rosenberg Gabriel had an effort from the left of the box saved by Kerala goalkeeper Arsh Shaikh, and Manvir Singh sent one attempt over the bar. Manvir later forced another save from Shaikh in the 35th minute, while Kerala created opportunities through Lallawmawma and Korou, with Albino Gomes denying Lallawmawma before Korou was stopped in first-half stoppage time.
In the second half Inter Kashi continued to press, Manvir’s header was saved by Shaikh in the 61st minute and Ayush Chhikara shot narrowly wide in the 72nd. Kerala had opportunities of their own: substitute Momo Yansane sent an effort wide and Green came close in the 65th minute. Sumit Sharma headed over from a corner in the 80th minute as Inter Kashi pushed for an equaliser but the Blasters’ defence held firm until the late counter that produced Green’s left-footed finish into the bottom-right corner after a Mohammed Sanan pass.
Inter Kashi’s off-field difficulties preceded the fixture: their principal investor withdrew after last season, the club reportedly had not begun pre-season on time, and FIFA imposed four separate registration bans over outstanding dues to former players. Payments were cleared and restrictions were briefly lifted in early October, enabling the registration of 22 players, including 16 new signings, before another ban was imposed over a payment to Lluis Tarres Campos; the club completed squad registration before that restriction took effect, leaving two additional players unregistered. The team explored playing in Ranchi before settling on the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune, meaning the season started away from their home city of Varanasi.
Kerala will travel to Guwahati to face NorthEast United on October 18, while Inter Kashi return to Pune for their next fixture against Odisha FC on October 17.
