Ajaraie double fires NorthEast United to 4-1 rout of Kerala Blasters

NorthEast United FC moved to the top of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2026-27 standings on Sunday, 18 October, after sweeping aside Kerala Blasters FC 4-1 at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati. Moroccan forward Alaaeddine Ajaraie led the way with two goals, while Antonio Moyano and debutant CK Aman also got their names on the scoresheet. Momo Yansane netted the lone reply for the visitors.

According to IANS, the result was a second straight win for Juan Pedro Benali’s side, and it lifted the Highlanders to first place in the table.

Ajaraie strikes early

Kerala Blasters head coach Ashley Westwood set his team up with five defenders, apparently hoping to blunt the threat posed by Ajaraie and winger Jithin MS. The plan did not survive long. In the 15th minute, defender Eneko Satrustegui sent a long pass over the Kerala back line, and Ajaraie ran on to it, went past goalkeeper Arsh Anwer Shaikh and tucked the ball away.

The hosts kept up the pressure. Arsh kept out a Jithin header, while at the other end Andre Green and Amey Ranawade, making his club debut on the right, both had chances for Kerala that came to nothing. Deep into first-half stoppage time, a loose pass by Sumit Sharma in the Kerala box was punished by Moyano, who made it 2-0 at the break.

Brief Kerala revival

Westwood brought on Korou Singh and Sandeep Singh at half-time, replacing Ranawade and Hormipam Ruivah. Around the hour mark the visitors found a way back when Adrian Luna laid the ball off with a backheel and Yansane drove it low past NorthEast goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh to cut the gap to 2-1.

The fightback was short-lived. In the 70th minute Ajaraie pounced on a poor clearance and curled a shot from the edge of the area beyond Arsh for his second of the night. Aman, on as a substitute, then sealed the win in the 82nd minute, finishing off a pass from Macarton.

What it means

The defeat in their second away fixture of the season leaves Kerala Blasters on three points from two games, sixth in the standings, Onmanorama reported. Their defending was the main concern, with two of the four goals coming from errors at the back.

For NorthEast United, the night underlined how sharp their forward line has looked early in the campaign. Ajaraie’s movement behind the defence troubled Kerala throughout, and Jithin was a constant outlet on the right flank. The ISL described the victory as a major boost as the Guwahati club tries to build momentum.

Kerala, for their part, will have to tighten up quickly as they look to get back to winning ways in their next fixtures.

Sources: Indian Super League, IANS, Onmanorama