Bambolim, Oct 30 (NationPress) A late header from new signing Koldo Obieta propelled Kerala Blasters FC to a hard-fought 1-0 victory against a 10-man Rajasthan United FC during the opening match of their AIFF Super Cup 2025-26 campaign at the GMC Stadium on Thursday.

In a tightly contested Group D clash, Rajasthan faced a significant setback when Gursimrat Singh Gill received a straight red card. Despite being a man down, they challenged the Blasters until Obieta's late strike clinched the win.

The match demanded great patience and resilience from both sides. For extended periods, it appeared that the Blasters, heavy favorites against their I-League rivals, might end up in a draw. Rajasthan's defense held strong, blocking every cross and shot that came their way.

Initially, Rajasthan played with unexpected confidence. New signing Ebenezer Amoh Kings, a Ghanaian midfielder, nearly scored in the ninth minute with a powerful shot that narrowly missed the goal.

Kerala Blasters took a while to settle into their game, relying on Adrian Luna for set-piece opportunities. In the 23rd minute, a header from Danish Farooq off a corner by Luna skimmed the crossbar, and shortly after, Muhammed Saheef's header was cleared off the line by Gill, keeping the score level at halftime.

Just after the second half began, Rajasthan's hopes dwindled as Gill, who had previously made a crucial clearance, was sent off for fouling Nihal Sudheesh, who was on a clear path to goal. This left the Desert Warriors down to ten, forcing them to defend in numbers for the rest of the match.

Despite having an extra player, Kerala struggled to capitalize on their advantage. Rajasthan's goalkeeper Bhabindra Malla Thakuri was impressive, while striker Robinson Blandón kept the Blasters' defense alert with his occasional counterattacks. In the 70th minute, Naoba Meitei's low cross nearly found Blandon at the end, just missing his foot.

The decisive moment arrived in the 87th minute. Defender Juan Rodriguez made an incisive run down the right flank and delivered a precise cross. Koldo Obieta rose above the defenders to connect with a powerful header that flew past Malla into the far corner, marking his debut goal for the Blasters and the match's only score.

Rajasthan nearly equalized in stoppage time, forcing Nora Fernandes into a quick save before Harmanjot Khabra executed a crucial clearance to ensure Kerala Blasters held on for the win.