Chennaiyin FC vs Kerala Blasters 1-0 (March 8, 2026)

In a high-octane Southern Derby, Chennaiyin FC clinched their first victory of the 2025–26 ISL season by edging past Kerala Blasters FC 1–0 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on March 8, 2026. The decisive moment arrived in the 42nd minute when winger Imran Khan unleashed a powerful left-footed strike from outside the box, which took a slight deflection off a defender and sailed past the stranded Kerala custodian.

While the hosts dominated possession and peppered the goal with 17 attempts, they were repeatedly thwarted by an inspired Mohammad Nawaz. The Chennaiyin goalkeeper earned Player of the Match honours for his heroic performance, which included a remarkable double save from close range in the second half. The Blasters also saw a late effort from Muhammad Ajsal crash against the crossbar as their winless start to the campaign extended to four matches. The result marked Chennaiyin’s first league win in Kochi in six years, propelling them to eighth in the standings.