ISL 3: No fireworks as Chennaiyin and Blasters clash ends in a stalemate

by Chittu Shetty October 29, 2016

Lack of creativity was visible as neither of the Southern teams managed to find a goal as the Diwali draw between the two sides ended without fireworks

Chennaiyin FC failed to move to top 2 after failing to beat Kerala Blasters at home. In a game dominated by both team on either sides of the break, neither team managed to break the deadlock despite coming up with plenty of opportunities. Chennaiyin FC dominated the proceedings in the first half, while Kerala Blasters began with an attacking intent in the second session but both teams failed to find the finishing touches to the numerous chances they had.

The draw meant both teams stayed at the same place on table, Chennaiyin FC occupy the fourth spot with nine points from six matches while Kerala Blasters remained at fifth with nine points from seven games.

Chennaiyin FC coach Marco Materazzi started with five changes to the team that drew against FC Pune City, bringing in the ever reliable Bernard Mendy at the back in place of marquee player John Arne Riise. Karanjit Singh, Raphael Augusto, Baljit Sahni and Davide Succi were brought in while surprisingly Jeje was dropped back to bench. Kerala Blasters, on other hand, started with the same squad that won all three points against FC Goa.

Chennai started brightly stitching together their first move in second minute of the game when Dudu shot was spilled by Nandy conceding a corner which bore no result. Chennai continued attack through long balls but Succi and Dudu failed to find the net.

Around 26^th minute a long ball found Succi on the right whose cross for Dud inside the box was headed away by Hengbart for corner. After a slew of corners were missed, Mendy found a chance when he evaded a diving Hengbart but ended up sending the ball to side netting. Chennaiyin continued to attack throughout the half but failed to get that final shot as the both teams went to the break with score 0-0.

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Blasters started the second half brightly with minutes in to the game Jinghan creating an opportunity with a looping ball only to be missed by his forwards. Ten minutes later, Josu’s cross was terribly headed wide by Belfort as blasters wasted another chance. Belfort was guilty of missing another close chance when Rafi and Kadio combined well to find the Haitian inside the box only for the forward to send the ball wide.

Blasters missed another similar opportunity when Rafique’s low cross was sent wide of post by an onrushing Belfort. A slew of substitution was brought in as both teams looked for winner. In the 87th minute, Rafique’s cross found the Josu in space only for him to send his half-volley over the bar. In the very next minute, Belfort’s effort was deflected away by an advancing Karanjit, the resulting corner saw an attempted clearance fell to Rafique whose shot went agonizingly wide off target.

Both sides failed to break the deadlock till the final whistle amidst a brawl among players and staffs as the game ended in a dull Diwali draw

Chennaiyin FC 0 -0 Kerala Blasters FC