Pune: Hosts FC Pune City played out a hard fought 1-1 draw against Kerala Blasters (KB) in a match of ISL-3 in front of nearly 9,000 fans at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium in Balewadi, here Monday.
Cedric Hengbart scored the fastest goal of this edition of the tournament to give the visitors an early lead. A deflected-shot by Mohamed Sissoko in the 68th minute rescued a point for Pune.
Kerala scored in the third minute when Hengbart reacted quickly to finish with his left-foot after Pune defender failed to clear an Azrack Mahamat shot on goal. It was the French centre-back’s first goal this season.
Jesus Tato volleyed wide from the edge of the penalty area 11 minutes later after an attempted clearance by the Blasters fell invitingly for the Spaniard. Dramane Traore was next to try and restore parity but his header from a corner sailed over the bar.
Pune’s next chance also went to Traore in the 23rd minute but he missed the target with his attempted header.
Mehtab Hossain came close to making it 2-0 for the Blasters in the 36th minute with a long-range that went inches wide of goal. Tato whipped in a dangerous cross for Traore moments later but Aaron Hughes managed to apply enough pressure to deny him a clear header on goal.
Pune eventually got their equaliser when skipper Sissoko’s shot from the edge of the box deflected off Hughes, giving Sandeep Nandy under the Kerala bar no chance to effect a save.
Agencies
