ISL 3: Blasters edge past Pune to keep play-off race alive

by Chittu Shetty November 26, 2016

Goals from Nazon and Aaron Hughes ensured Blasters record their fifth Consecutive win at home as Pune’s Play-off race comes to an end.

Duckens Nazon scores his Maiden ISL goal

Duncan Nazon and Aaron Hughes scored their maiden ISL goals to take Blasters to the third spot in the table with 18 points and two games to spare. On the other hand, Antonio Habas’s Pune are almost out of the Play-off race with just 15 points from 13 games although there could still be a far-fetched mathematical chance.

Kerala Blasters started with Marquee player Aaron Hughes back into the side to shore up the defence as expected while forward Kervens Belfort, along with Duckens Nazon, Mohammed Rafi started in the attack. Sandeep Nandy replaced Graham Stack between the stick, with Bengaluru FC right back Rino Anto dropping to bench

On the other hand, FC Pune City, in a must-win game, started with Argentine winger Gustavo Oberman for Ndoye while Pitu and Rahul Bheke also started the game with Eugeneson Lyngdoh once again on the bench.

The game started with the home side dominating the proceedings. After Vineeth and Belfort failed to convert their half chances early in the game, Blasters took the lead in the 7^th minute. Nazon robbed the ball from Ravanan before racing clear of the marker and side stepped Gouramangi to fire past Bete giving Kerala an early lead.

Despite having a healthy amount of Possession, Pune lacked the killing blow in the final third with long hopeful balls for Zurdo being easily dealt with by Kerala defence. On the other hand, the home side looked more threatening on the counter with the pace of Vineeth, Nazon and Belfort frequently troubling the pune defence.

The best chance before break for Pune came when Zurdo’s cross inside the box was headed over the bar by the Izumi. Minutes before break, Arata once again failed to equalize a golden chance when Pitu’s cross was missed by Nandy off his line, the ball looped and looked heading towards the far corner, however Izumi on pressure from the blasters defence failed to give the final touches as the ball came of his thighs to go off play.

Also Read: ISL 3: FC Goa lose in Injury time, Play-off hopes almost over

At the other end, on a counter Belfort fed Vineeth with a beautiful through ball, with Bete coming off his line, Vineeth took an early shot only to be denied by Bete’s outstretched legs. Both the sides headed into the break with just a goal separating them.

Pune came in to the second half with intent as substitute Ndoye created trouble on the left with his pace but still Pune lacked a quality in the attacking third as they failed to convert their chances. On the other hand, Blasters looked more likely to score on their counter-attacks.

Finally in the 57^th minute, Vineeth’s volleyed cross to the far post was headed home by an unmarked Aaron Hughes as the Blasters went 2-0 up. The second goal brightened up the home side as they began taking a pop at goals from distance. After Josu’s effort went wide, Belfort tried his luck from around 30 yards out, but bête was alert enough to make a finger tip save.

Pune, on the other kept missing from promising positions. For Kerala, Vineeth and German had a couple of more chances to finish off the game but Bete came up with number of saves to keep Pune in the game. In the 87^th minute, Traore had a chance to pull one back but his snapshot from close range was instinctively saved by Nandy to the disappointment of the stallions.

Finally in the injury time, from a free kick just outside the box, Anibal Zurdo’s powerful shot pulled things back a little for Pune, however Blasters held on to the game for rest of the minutes to take all three points as Pune’s road to play-off seemed to hit a wall.

Kerala Blasters FC 2 (Nazon 7’, Hughes 57’) – 1 FC Pune City (Zurdo 57’)