ISL 2021-22: Delighted with my first Hero ISL goal, happier with the clean sheet: Kerala Blasters FC’s Enes Sipovic

Kerala Blasters defender Enes Sipovic was delighted after he scored his maiden Hero Indian Super League goal for the club against SC East Bengal at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Monday. Sipovic was also happy that his team was able to keep a clean sheet and bag three crucial points to move into the top four in the standings.

The central defender scored through the header in the 49th minute of the game after a cross from Puitea Lalthathanga Khawlhring. This win puts Kerala Blasters in the third position in the standings as they have won seven out of their 15 matches with 26 points under their belt.

“Finally, after a lot of work, in my second season (in the Hero ISL), I got my opportunity (to register a goal). It was not my first chance to score a goal, but after many misses, last year, two times against SC East Bengal, I missed chances. This time it was to happen. It was I think a nice cross from Puitea (Lalthathanga Khawlhring) and I think it was to happen, my goal decided the match,” said Enes Sipovic, during the post-match interview after the win over SC East Bengal.

“Like I always said, for me, as a defender, we kept it zero (clean sheet). The coach did not dream about such a defensive line today, but I want to congratulate all the guys on the bench for their great effort, a few days after the defeat against Jamshedpur FC.”

Sipovic reckons that every defeat at this stage of the tournament is like a knockout punch and they need to be at the top of their game in the remaining five matches of the league stage to qualify for the semifinal stages.

“I think we have arrived in a phase in the league where the teams facing are like two boxers, like each defeat you are knocked down. It’s about how you are going to get up and push forward. After a tough defeat against Jamshedpur FC, this is the beauty of football. You don’t have to think too much about that, we had the chance to prove ourselves, we just bumped into the road and look today we won, we celebrate tonight, but tomorrow we will think about the next game,” signed off Sipovic.

Kerala Blasters FC will face ATK Mohun Bagan in their next match at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Saturday.