Pune: Kerala Blasters FC registered their first win of the inaugural Indian Super League (ISL) football tournament, beating hosts FC Pune City 2-1 in a close contest at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium here.
With the win, Kerala jumped up to fifth spot in the standings with four points from as many matches, just above Pune, who also have four points from four matches but are behind on goal difference.
FC Pune City’s marquee player David Trezeguet put his team ahead early in the first half, only for Kerala to equalise just before the break through striker C.S. Sabeeth. Substitute Penn Orji scored the winning goal for the away team.
The hosts found their stride early, with Trezeguet scoring his first goal of the tournament. Fed by a spectacular pass from John Goossens from the left wing, the Frenchman took a first-time volley to put his team ahead.
After the opening goal, Pune took control of proceedings, stitching together good passes.
Kerala, on the backfoot and failing to create any meaningful attack, were forced to make a substitution in the 25th minute, injecting pace in the form of Ishfaq Ahmad in place of veteran Renedy Singh.
The change brought energy and purpose back into Kerala’s game and they equalised in the 42nd minute.
Cedric Hengbart guided a well-taken corner by Stephen Pearson towards the goal for teammate Sabeeth to put it in to go into the break level at 1-1.
And the visitors successfully carried forward the momentum gained after the equaliser into the second half, taking the lead in the 66th minute through Orji.
Iain Hume essayed a brilliant pass to Orji, who converted it coolly to put his team ahead four minutes after entering the field.
From then on Kerala, inspired by Orji, dominated the contest, with the Nigerian coming close to scoring again several times, but couldn’t quite convert the chances that came his way.
But in the end they didn’t have to rue the lost opportunities as they held on to the lead to collect their first three points.
