ISL 2016: Kerala Blasters seek to erase Mumbai nightmare against resurgent FC Pune City

The Indian Super League is a tremendous leveller for all teams and it was no different when Kerala Blasters were given a pasting by Diego Forlan and Mumbai City FC in their previous outing. Such a defeat in the business end of the table can be demoralising and potentially derail a side’s campaign.

Steve Coppell, the Blasters’ coach, remains defiant about his team’s chances, brushing aside the 0-5 defeat at the Andheri Sports Complex as a one-off. “The third goal could have been vital, so I thought if we managed to pull one back we would be back in the game,” he said. “Unfortunately, we never got it but we are past that now and we have learnt what we can from that game.

“Mumbai is a very good team, and like I said before the game, there has been a huge investment in their team, so it was always going to be difficult against them but it’s done now and we are moving forward and improving,” Coppell was quoted as saying by the official ISL website.

Blasters will take solace in their skipper Aaron Hughes coming back into the side from a minor injury, and also playing in front of their unparalleled home support, which has made for quite a spectacle over the last three seasons. FC Pune City, though, have bounced back after a poor start to the season, much like the Blasters, but were halted in their tracks in their last game.

One of the strange features of this ISL season has been that despite possessing experienced personnel in defence, the teams have been culpable of shipping out too many goals, especially in the final stages of the game.

Before the Mumbai debacle, the Blasters pulled off two such wins courtesy of local boy CK Vineeth. After labouring in front of goal, another Bengaluru FC player, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, has added some much needed dynamism for Antonio Habas’s side in recent weeks.

Lyngdoh doesn’t score that many, but is deadly with his crossing and is a live-wire on the left wing. Sadly, the Indian doesn’t have many teammates that he can count on to finish off the chances that he can create. Pune’s flying winger Momar Ndoye is also a doubtful starter after limping off early in the game against NorthEast United.

Home advantage has never played much of a role in altering the result of the contest, but it looks like the Blasters seem to have found a way to use the deafening noise created by 60,000 fans to their advantage. That makes them narrow favourites in this encounter.

Match Facts

Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi

Capacity: 60,000

Time: 7 pm IST

Last meeting: FC Pune City 1-1 Kerala Blasters, Balewadi Stadium on October 17, 2016

Head-to-head: Matches played: 5. Kerala wins: 3, Pune wins: 1, Draws: 1

Key Battles

Gouramangi Singh vs CK Vineeth

The veteran Indian defender has finally come into his element in the ISL after two seasons filled with peripheral appearances. While he has shown good leadership and awareness at the back, he has failed to create a stable partnership with any of his defensive partners.

CK Vineeth, despite playing in wide positions, drifts into the box and has an eye for goal. Gouramangi Singh will also need to organise the shape of his side between the lines. Pune have let the creative midfielders playing in the No. 10 role have far too much time and space on the ball.

Jonathan Lucca vs Sandesh Jhingan

Jhingan has been excellent for the Blasters and has played a key role in every win that his team has mustered so far. A feature of Pune’s play has been for their frontmen to go out wide, bringing their midfielders into the game. They make runs into the box too.

Lucca is the creative outlet from the middle of the park for Pune and has an eye for goal too. He, along with skipper Mohamed Sissoko, will take turns in raiding the Blasters area. Jhingan has a stern test on his hands.

Expected Lineups

FC Pune City: Edel Bete; Narayan Das, Eduardo Ferreira, Dharmaraj Ravanan, Gouramangi Singh; Mohamed Sissoko, Jonathan Lucca; Lenny Rodrigues, Jonathan Lucca, Eugeneson Lyngdoh ; Dramane Traore.

Kerala Blasters FC: Sandip Nandy; Rino Anto, Aaron Hughes, Cedric Hengbart, Sandesh Jhingan; Azrack Mahamat, Mehtab Hossain; CK Vineeth, Michael Chopra; Josu; Kervens Belfort.