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At long last, after five games, the Kerala Blasters finally won a match in ISL 2017. It came at home, after a 1-0 win against NorthEast United, courtesy of a goal from local lad CK Vineeth.
It was a match where emotions have charged and it featured one moment that had a significant impact on the game. Without any further ado, let's get to what made the news in this game.
First glimpse of Wes Brown
With one former Manchester United player injured in the last game, Rene Meulensteen turned to another former United man in his hour of need - Wes Brown.
However, it was in a midfield role as opposed to centre-back or right-back positions that he's played in throughout his career.
Meulensteen opted to go for a 4-1-4-1 formation with Brown playing in front of the back four as a defensive midfielder with Mark Sifneos playing up front once again.
This was Brown's debut in the competition.
Anto delivers at long last
If there's one thing that's been a constant sight in the Blasters' first few games this season, it's been Rino Anto's lung-busting runs down the right, but with atrocious end products as far as his crosses were concerned. They would either be horribly over-hit or hopelessly out of play, never finding his teammates in the box.
Today though, the Blasters' goal was all Anto as his pinpoint cross pretty much guaranteed that CK Vineeth was going to score. Sandesh Jhingan played Anto through down the right with a well-weighted overhead and Anto picked it up to deliver a delicious cross for his state-mate Vineeth who connected with a flying header to open his account for this campaign.
Anto's cross was a beauty worth watching on repeat a fair few times. Blasters will be hoping he keeps up this level.
Another Blasters match, another red card
Fortunately for the Blasters, this time it was their opponents who were at the receiving end.
NorthEast custodian TP Rehenesh was given a straight red in the 42nd minute when after he brought down Sifneos outside the box. It was a huge moment in the context of the game that gave a sizable advantage to the Blasters.
The bone of contention here though was that there was another NorthEast defender just behind Rehenesh which made Rehenesh not necessarily the last man. So it is debatable whether he deserved a straight red; Joao de Deus and NorthEast will certainly feel that it didn't merit a sending off.
Blasters win at last, but issues persist
Make no mistake, this was a defensive set up by Meulensteen as he went with Brown as a shielding midfielder.
However, after the goals his side let in against FC Goa, it made sense that he opted for caution over cavalier in this home game as the Blasters needed the points.
While the sending off of Rehenesh was a touch fortunate for the Blasters, it was fortune that they should have capitalised on. However, they didn't make the most of it.
Even against 10 men, the Blasters failed to score again and put the game to bed early. Yes, there was one shot that hit the upright, but that apart there were still those stray passes and inadequate play in the attacking third.
The three points is a huge boost for Meulensteen as it was their first win of the campaign, but it's only a start.
Blasters should stick with Sifneos
It is not a coincidence that the Blasters have looked a better team going forward since the young Sifneos came into the side.
Iain Hume, Vineeth and Dimitar Berbatov may be bigger names, but Sifneos has given the Blasters a better look, as his runs off the ball have helped the team create better openings in the opposition area.
He keeps going till the last minute and Berbatov is likely going to continue in his midfield role when he returns, but the Blasters should stick with Sifneos over Hume who's output has been a bit on the lower side this season.
