At the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, Hyderabad FC pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat Kerala Blasters 2-1 on Thursday in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024–25 season.

Jesus Jimenez gave the home team an early lead as the game got underway, but Andrei Alba’s brace gave the visitors their second victory of the current campaign. After three straight defeats, Kerala Blasters FC is in a deep sleep.

Mihail Stahre relied on his youthful players for this game since Kwame Peprah was banned and Noah Sadaoui wasn’t healthy enough to start. The wingers gave their coach a spectacular start when he decided to start with two exceptional players on each flank: Mohammed Aimen and Korou Singh. In the first quarter, Aimen was the hosts’ main engine. The Hyderabad FC defense had several issues as a result of his straightforward style and unrelenting running.

Korou Singh, the third-youngest player overall and the youngest (17 years, 340 days) to play for the Kerala Blasters in the ISL, did the actual harm. The winger showed remarkable maturity from a counterattack despite his youth as he deceived his man and then found an onrushing Jimenez in the box with a delicate low cross. In the thirteenth minute, the Spaniard completed the last steps to give the squad the lead. Korou became the competition’s youngest player to register an assist.

Jimenez later teamed with Adrian Luna to put the ball into the goal, only to have it ruled offside, further torturing the Hyderabad FC defense. Aimen’s outstanding start to the game was cut short by an injury just after the drinks break, when he hobbled off the field.

Hyderabad FC awaited their chance, but Kerala Blasters FC had the most of the possession. It finally arrived in the 43rd minute when Chhunga Hmar played Parag Shrivas in space after making a quick dash forward from the left wing. After defeating Ruivah Hormipam, the fullback squared up against Andrei Alba in space. Just before halftime, the Brazilian, who was unmarked at the outside of the penalty box, slammed the ball in to restore parity.

Both managers trusted their foreign reinforcements in the second half, with Thangboi Singto turning to Edmilson Correia and Stahre bringing on Noah. When the latter forward darted past the Kerala Blasters’ backline and was stopped by Som Kumar, he almost had an immediate effect.

But in the 70th minute, against the flow of play, Alba completed his brace and beat Som Kumar from the penalty spot to give the visitors the lead. After a counterattack, Hyderabad FC was given a penalty after Hormipam’s handball caused the referee to point to the spot.

The home team attempted to tie the score in the last 10 minutes of play, but Hyderabad FC admirably maintained their ground to win all the points.