Kerala Blasters moved into the top four of the 2016 Indian Super League table with a 2-1 win over FC Pune City at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Friday.
Duckens Nazon and skipper Aaron Hughes scored a goal apiece to give Kerala the victory. Pune did pull one back in stoppage time to create a few nervy moments, but in the end, Kerala held their nerves and clinched victory.
This was Kerala’s fourth successive victory at home this season, a first for any team in the ISL so far.
Nazon opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a superb run from the left. It all started from a defensive lapse which handed the ball to Nazon. Pune’s Dharmaraj Ravanan looked to play a back-pass which lacked the power and Nazon came from behind and won it. He smartly nutmegged Gouramangi Singh before slotting the ball past a helpless Apoula Edima Edel Bete to open the scoring.
Hughes doubled the lead in the 57th minute. A Mehtab Hossain corner saw the ball float neatly into the goal area where CK Vineeth met it, lobbed it towards the far post after controlling with his chest. Hughes read the play perfectly and was the first to reach the ball and headed home to give Kerala a two-goal cushion.
The game saw a bit of drama in the end as the referee added six minutes of stoppage time. Pune made most of the opportunity as Anibal Rodriguez scored through a cleverly taken free kick at the edge of the box.
Pitu touched the ball to set up Anibal who blasted it onto the far post for some late drama. Kerala though did not panic and played out the game till the final whistle to earn the win.
Brief scores:
Kerala Blasters 2 (Duckens Nazon, Aaron Hughes) beat FC Pune City 1 (Anibal Rodriguez)
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