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

Kerala Blasters FC’s Enes Sipovic is overjoyed to finally end his goal-scoring drought and score a goal in the Hero Indian Super League 2021-22 (ISL), but is happier with the clean sheet kept by them in a 1-0 win over SC East Bengal at the Tilak Maidan Stadium, on Monday evening.

A 49th-minute header from the central defender was the difference-maker in the game after Lalthathanga Khawlhring produced an inch-perfect corner-kick to provide an assist. With the win, the Blasters climbed up to the third position in the league table, having collected 26 points from 15 matches.

“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.”

Sharing his views on the road ahead, the Bosnian footballer gauged the current situation as a ‘boxing’ match, where every defeat is like a knockdown. However, the team is not overthinking about the win and is determined to prepare for the next match in the best possible way.

“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 be up against ATK Mohun Bagan in their next match at the Tilak Maidan Stadium, on Saturday evening.