Reduced to nine men in the final quarter, Kerala Blasters FC were made to dig deep to eke out a 1-0 victory over Punjab FC in their Indian Super League match here on Sunday. A spot-kick from Noah Sadaoui (44th minute) was enough for Kerala Blasters FC to secure a win. With this result, Kerala Blasters FC became just the third side to win an ISL game after receiving two or more red cards after Mumbai City FC (4 vs Mohun Bagan Super Giant on December 20, 2023) and Chennaiyin FC (2 vs Kerala Blasters FC on December 16, 2014).

With this win, KBFC are back in the reckoning for the playoffs, as they are only three points behind sixth-placed Odisha FC (20). On the other hand, Punjab FC have succumbed to four consecutive defeats, and they were missing key attackers Luka Majcen and Ezequiel Vidal due to suspensions. It was a slow start to the game as both teams opted for a caution-first approach. Kerala Blasters did show some urgency in the first quarter through their main marksman Noah Sadaoui. The hosts enjoyed the lion's share of possession but hardly created any meaningful chances in the first 20 minutes. The visitors had a sniff at Punjab FC's goal in the 24th minute when Noah found Korou Singh in the penalty area with a delightful cross.