Mohun Bagan star Katsumi Yusa inspires NorthEast United FC to defeat Kerala Blasters

FULL TIME! NorthEast United FC record a win against Kerala Blasters on the opening day.

Final score: 1-0

Goalscorer: Katsumi Yusa

85' The away team are struggling to find the equaliser and as things stand, NorthEast United FC are making a winning start to the ISL 2016.

77' The marquee player for the home side, Didier Zokora, makes his maiden appearance in ISL 2016. Comes on for Romaric.

72' SHOT! Graham Stack with yet another good save to stop Alfaro from doubling the lead for the home side.

68' NorthEast United FC really stepping up their ante now following the goal.

60' SHOT! Sandesh Jhingan almist scored the equaliser from a very difficult angle. Subrata Paul just saves it. Lucky escape for the Indian goalkeeper once again as Belfort couldn't make use of the free goal to get the scores level.

56' GOOAAALLL! Finally, it is Mohun Bagan star Katsumi Yusa who scores the first of the match for NorthEast United FC. Wonderful ball in from Nico Velez.

Score: 1-0

54' On the other end, Holicharan Narzary delivers a great ball in from the wings, but yet again, no striker from NorthEast United FC can get to it.

50' Antonio German with yet another shot on goal, but just missed.

47' Antonio German goes close with a header, but the NorthEast United defenders are marking him closely. Great chance.

46' Second half resumes.

HALF TIME: Chances have been created, inroads have been made, but no goal scored. NorthEast United FC look the better side so far.

42' CHANCE! Graham Stack makes yet another important save to stop Nico Velez from scoring via a header. No goal yet in the match.

35' Nice build up by Kerala Blasters from a set piece. Sandesh Jhingan came close to scoring via a header but somehow the ball has been stopped. 

Meanwhile, Rowlin Borges receives the first yellow card of ISL 2016 for a clumsy challenge on Ishfaq Ahmed.

33' Mohammad Rafi with a good header but the ball was never on target for the Kerala Blasters forward.

26' Free kick for NorthEast United FC again. Sandesh Jhingan makes a needless challenge just outside the box.

SHOT! Katsumi Yusa so very close to scoring, but off target by a whisker.

23' Graham Stack makes the first save of the game as he denies Romaric from getting the opening blood for the home side.

22' Freekick awarded to NorthEast United from a dangerous position. Needless foul on Katsumi Yusa by Mehtab Hossain. Unfortunately, nothing actually comes out of the set piece.

15' Most of the play is being focussed on the midfield but the teams are nevertheless trying. No great shot on goal from any side, as yet.

10' Great ball in from Nico Velez but unfortunately, no strikers close enough to head the ball in. Opportunity missed for the home side.

6' Kerala Blasters slowly trying to make inroads but the home side's defence has been equally effective so far.

2' The home side seeing more of the ball from the start and performing well as well, both defensively and attacking-wise.

7 pm IST: THE MATCH IS UNDER WAY.

6:45 pm IST: PV Sindhu, who won the silver medal for India in Rio 2016 Olympics hands over the official match ball to Nita Ambani. The ISL 2016 is now officially open.

6:40 pm IST: THE LINEUPS ARE HERE FOR TONIGHT 

6:35 pm IST: B-Town heartthrobs Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt have taken to the stage and made the temperature soar.

Meanwhile, we have BREAKING NEWS coming in. Momo Sissoko, former Liverpool, Juventus and PSG midfielder is the new marquee player for FC Pune City.

6:30 pm IST: "It feels great to be in the Northeast. All the teams better give their best and play fair." - Sachin Tendulkar, co-owner, Kerala Blasters.

6:25 pm IST: "May the best team win and ours (Chennaiyin FC) is the best team," - MS Dhoni, India cricket team veteran.

6:20 pm IST: Jacqueline Fernandez's sizzling opening act has been followed by NorthEast United FC co-owner John Abraham giving his inaugural comments of the evening. Chennaiyin FC co-owner Abhishek Bachchan has meanwhile stated that the Indian Super League trophy will stay with them this time around as well!

5:55 pm IST: We have some pictures coming in from the stadium, and one thing is for certain - The atmosphere is set to get more enthraling with each passing minute.

5:30 pm IST: The year-long wait has finally borne fruit for Indian football fans as the Indian Super League has entered its third edition. ISL 2016 gets underway from Guwahati with the opening game seeing NorthEast United FC take on Kerala Blasters. Will it be NorthEast United FC's year this time around? That remains to be seen. 

Before that, we have a glittering opening ceremony coming up as the stars of Bollywood -- from Alia Bhatt to Jacqueline Fernandez -- shaking a leg to popular songs. Join me, Sayantan, for all the action on Super Saturday in Indian football.

The opening ceremony kicks off at 6:15 pm IST, while the match gets under way at 7 pm IST.

Stay tuned to this page.