Agencies
Pune, October 30
Kerala Blasters came back from being a goal down to FC Pune City to register a 2-1 victory at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Pune in the seventh match of the Indian Super League (ISL) on Thursday. David Trezeguet had put his side ahead midway into the first half but the equalizer came before the break through CS Sabeeth. Penn Orji made an instant impact on the proceedings by scoring the winner after coming on as a substitute.
It was a cagey opening to the match, whose silence was shattered by Maity’s reckless challenge in the second minute which earned him a caution. From the ensuing free kick , Stephen Pearson drifted in a dangerous ball to the far post from the left, which was headed just wide by an alert Iain Hume.
Kostas Katsouranis then had a clanger as some neat intricate build play put the Greek through on goal, only for him to punt it straight at a well positioned David James in the 14th minute.
In the very next minute, Pune took the lead after a collective dropping of awareness by the Blasters, who failed to notice the quick free-kick taken from the left side of the pitch by Goossens, allowing Trezeguet to be picked out in the box. The Frenchman controlled the ball brilliantly and smacked it home on the bounce across David James and into the far side of the goal to push his side ahead.
The game exploded back into life just minutes before the interval. Sabeeth had a glorious chance to bring Kerala level as he scuffed his shot against Daniele Magliocchetti after being sent through brilliantly by Hume.
In the corner-kick that followed, it was from this in swinging delivery by Pearson that Kerala brought themselves level.
Cedric Hengbart rose the highest above Magliacchetti to head it towards the goal with Sabeeth providing the final touch to see the ball into the back of the net.
Hume was guilty of missing a sitter, after he found himself in acres of space in the Pune City box only to fire a low drive right which was parried away by Bhattacharya only as far as Gusmao whose shot went wide.
A quickly taken throw-in from Milagres Gonsalves saw Hume, again unattended to, slid in a low pass to substitute Penn Orji, who smacked it past a grasping Bhattacharya in goal to make it 2-1 on the night.
Pune huffed and puffed but were largely static in their overall passing style, easily stymied by a dominant away team.
In the 84th minute, Penn Orji had a chance of similar ilk from which he scored, though this time on being set up after terrific work by Milagres, the Nigerian midfielder shot wide.
One touch football around the box was the order of the day for Blasters as Orji nearly bolted onto a third attempt on goal, only for it to shade wide.
In the dying embers of the game, Sarkar was found by Cirillo in acres of space down the right, but he fired his cross horribly wide.
Kerala Blasters recorded first win and condemned Pune to first home defeat.
