Bengaluru, April 11 (NationPress) A stunning late goal from Francisco Feuillassier propelled Kerala Blasters FC to a remarkable second-half revival, clinching their inaugural win of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 season with a 2-1 triumph over 10-man Bengaluru FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday.

Initially, Bengaluru took the lead with an own goal from Fallou Ndiaye, but Víctor Bertomeu equalized before substitute Feuillassier netted the decisive goal.

This victory elevates Kerala Blasters to 13th place in the standings with four points, while Bengaluru FC remains in fifth with 14 points.

Kerala started strongly, nearly scoring in the seventh minute when Fallou Ndiaye's header was saved by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. Shortly after, Ebindas Y fired wide from a distance as the visitors posed an early threat.

Bengaluru gradually found their stride, with Ryan Williams creating opportunities on the right flank. Sunil Chhetri nearly converted in the 23rd minute, heading wide from a Nikhil Poojary cross. A minute later, Williams tested Arsh Shaikh with a powerful shot.

The first breakthrough came in the 28th minute when an unfortunate mistake by the visitors allowed Bengaluru to take the lead. Williams delivered a dangerous cross that Fallou accidentally redirected into his own net while attempting to clear.

The match turned dramatically in the 34th minute when Braian Sánchez received a red card for violent conduct during a confrontation with Matías Hernández, leaving Bengaluru down to ten men.

Kerala sought to exploit their numerical advantage, led by Kévin Yoke, but Bengaluru's defense, led by Chinglensana Singh, held strong, going into halftime with a narrow lead.

After the break, Bengaluru continued to threaten on counterattacks, with Williams nearly extending their lead in the 49th minute. Ashique Kuruniyan also forced a brilliant save from Arsh Shaikh as the hosts aimed to maintain their advantage despite being outnumbered.

However, Kerala began to dominate play and were rewarded in the 60th minute. Ebindas supplied a precise through ball to Víctor Bertomeu, who calmly finished into the bottom-right corner, leveling the score.

With momentum shifting in their favor, Kerala pressed on, and their efforts bore fruit in the 78th minute. Francisco Feuillassier marked his ISL debut with a memorable goal, receiving another clever pass from Ebindas, skillfully evading his marker, and finishing through Gurpreet's

Bengaluru pushed forward in the closing minutes, with substitutes Monirul Molla and Williams leading the charge, but Kerala's defense remained steadfast. Arsh Shaikh made a crucial save in stoppage time, while Bikash Yumnam executed an important clearance to secure the lead.

The final whistle confirmed Kerala Blasters FC's hard-fought 2-1 victory, showcasing their resilience and composure in overcoming a deficit against a determined Bengaluru side.