Vineeth’s last-gasp stunner gives Kerala full points

Pune: C K Vineeth scored a last-gasp winner that would be talked about long after this edition of the Hero Indian Super League draws to a close as Kerala Blasters got the better of FC Pune City 2-1 at Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium, Pune, on Friday.

Kerala Blasters head coach David James had said that his team would need to win every game left in the season to stand any chance of making the semifinals and they duly delivered, thanks to goals from Jackichand Singh and Vineeth.

While Jackichand’s goal had class written all over it in the 58th minute and gave Kerala the lead, it was Vineeth who grabbed the limelight with a goal in added time after Emiliano Alfaro had drawn level for the hosts in the 78th minute.

With the scores locked at 1-1, and the clock ticking down towards the final whistle, Courage Pekuson's long ball was chested down by Vineeth outside the box and hit on the swivel with immense power to beat Vishal Kaith - a stunning goal from a man who has been Kerala's saviour so many times.

After a barren first session, the second half turned out to be quite eventful which saw three goals and Pune’s Brazilian striker Marcelinho hitting the post twice. The Hero of the Match twice hit the post with venomous attempts and then drew a brilliant save from goalkeeper Subhashish Roy Chowdhury. Kerala will argue that Marcelinho shouldn't have been on the pitch after a two-footed lunge on Prasanth went punished with only a yellow card. 

The man who got sent off, however, was Pune City coach Ranko Popovic for a confrontation with the fourth official.

For Kerala’s opening goal, Jackichand controlled a ball outside the area and unleashed a pile-driver from outside the area to beat Vishal Kaith's outstretched dive.

Emiliano Alfaro equalised in the 78th minute from the spot after the Uruguayan striker was through on goal and Kerala goalkeeper Subhasish came off his line to smother the ball. The attacker went down under the challenge and the referee pointed to the spot. 

Alfaro aimed for the bottom corner and made no mistake in scoring his seventh goal of the season. 

It seemed like the match would end in a draw until Vineeth came up with a blinder of a goal.

The loss keeps Pune (22 points from 13 matches) in the playoff spots but three points for Kerala Blasters mean they go into fifth position with 20 points from 14 matches. They have displaced FC Goa (19 points) from the fourth position but have played three additional matches.

Kerala look to exploit Pune’s imbalance

Pune: David James' return to Kerala Blasters FC saw a three-match unbeaten run at the start, but that was punctured by back-to-back defeats before his side recovered to get all three points against Delhi Dynamos in the Hero Indian Super League. 

It has been a bit of a roller-coaster ride for the Englishman and his team's fans as they look to overhaul a two-point gap to the top four. The only issue is that the Kerala Blasters have played more games than any of the teams in contention for a place in the semifinal and will now face the daunting task of beating high-flying FC Pune City at Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium, Pune, on Friday. 

Pune are themselves dreaming of the possibility to make the Hero ISL playoffs for the first time ever, and have the momentum with two wins out of two and a healthy return of just one defeat in their last six games. Ranko Popovic's side are dangerous on the counter, lethal on the finish and have the second-best defence in the league with just 12 goals conceded.

Kerala Blasters FC captain Sandesh Jhingan and head coach David James
 know that there is scope for any slip-ups now

"The defeat to FC Goa was tough and left us in a position where we had to win six games in a row so the Delhi win was very important. Confidence in the players was good and it put us one step ahead in the quest to win the remaining games," said James.

James was asked what he thought of Pune goalkeeper Vishal Kaith, who has kept four cleansheets in nine appearances, making 21 saves in the process. "He's a talented young man and there are some things which he is very good at and there are some things about him that we will look to take advantage of tomorrow," said the former England international.

He also said that star signing Dimitar Berbatov "looked fantastic in training" and did not respond to questions over other transfer targets. 

Pune City can go top of the table provisionally if they beat Kerala Blasters. The free-scoring side have Marcelo Pereira and Emiliano Alfaro in good form and it will be hard to stop them. Popovic however, while happy, is not completely satisfied with his side and demanded more.

"It's good if people are talking (about our performances) but I have always maintained that we need to balance both attack and defence to do well. So yes, we are on a good way, but we are not yet good - we are trying. In football, you have to repeat week after week that what is behind us is nice - but it's about the future now," he said.

Popovic also admitted that he doesn't like making many changes to his side. Alfaro has played all 12 games so far and the head coach said that he will only rest him if it is necessary for the player to rest. So far, that hasn't happened, so Popovic will continue fielding him. However, he said that there were some niggles and he may be forced to rotate his squad.

Kerala Blasters will hope that these changes work in their favour as they embark on yet another tough fixture.

Chennaiyin, Pune grapple with coach suspension

Chennai:FC Pune City got four points from their last two matches while coach Ranko Popovic was serving a four-match ban. However the visitors will now have to overcome the absence of not just their coach at the touchline but also their talisman Marcelinho for a crucial Hero Indian Super League encounter against Chennaiyin FC at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai, on Saturday. 

The Brazilian is Pune City’s leading goal scorer with six strikes, including a hat-trick, and has four assists to boot. He will, however, remain suspended for the next clash after accumulating four bookings. He has missed a match before – against Bengaluru FC – when he was not fully fit and was left on the bench, and it showed as Bengaluru FC walked away with full points. 

“Marcelinho is one of the best player in the league. We will miss him surely but I know our team has quality. If a team cannot play without one player, it’s no team. We know his importance, he is a strong player but we know how (good) is our team,” Pune City Assistant Coach Vladica Grujic said during the pre-match media interaction.

With 16 points from nine matches, Pune City are placed third, just below Chennaiyin FC who have an extra point. This puts them in a good position to push for a play-off place, though the assistant coach warned that they still have plenty to do.

“We have achieved nothing yet because you can be first, fourth or last. Now, it’s time to try to win points to come as close as possible to first four. This is our aim to come in the first four teams,” he said.

Chennaiyin FC are among the more impressive teams in this edition of ISL and are second only to Bengaluru FC. The home team, however, must shake off the absence of their coach John Gregory, who curiously also remains suspended, just like their rivals.

“Both of them are really good coaches and they are working here for the betterment of the game. I hope to see both of them back in the dugout soon,” said Grujic. 

Gregory’s absence should not impact Chennaiyin FC on the field and they should be encouraged with the return of their captain Henrique Soreno who completed serving a one-match suspension of his own.

“We know Pune is strong in attack. They look threatening. We know they are a good attacking side and will come hard at us. We are lucky that our best player, captain (Soreno) is behind. It will be a good contest,” said Assistant Coach Syed Sabir Pasha.

Chennaiyin FC have conceded goals at the death in their last two matches at home against Delhi Dynamos (2-2) and Kerala Blasters (1-1). That has cost them dearly and Pasha called for focus till the final whistle. 

“It hurts us, hurts the players. It’s just lack of focus. We have to play as a team in those last moments. Players also understand I think. It will not happen in the matches to come,” assures Pasha.