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Last season ISL finalists Kerala Blasters held high flying FC Pune City to a 1-1 draw at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Thursday night.
In a match of two halves, the guests from FC Pune City were the better side in the first half and deservingly went into the break with a lead, while the Kerala Blasters staged a comeback in the second session to earn a 1-1 draw.
FC Pune City started to attack from the first whistle with top strikers Marcelinho and Emiliano Alfaro always a threat to Subhasish Roy Chowdhury in the Blasters goal. But they had to wait until the 33rd minute, when Marcelinho combined with youngster Ashique Kuruniyan to finish off with a placed shot past Subhasish. That FC Pune City only went into the break with a one goal lead would come back to haunt them.
After the breather, the Kerala Blasters were better in the game but chances were not coming their way and in the 66th minute, Ashique Kuruniyan either could have shot on goal or passed to a better placed team member but he fluffed the chance.
At the other end in the 73rd minute, substitute Keziron Kizito found Courage Pekuson on the left, who in turn rushed forward and squared the ball for Mark Sifneos to equalise. The crowd, who was silent at times, now came to life and in the last few minutes the Blasters had chances to even score a winner, but in the end the match ended 1-1.
MATCH AWARDS
Club Award: Kerala Blasters FC & FC Pune City
Swift Moment of the Match: Subhasish Roy Chowdhury (Kerala Blasters)
DHL Winning Pass of the Match: Courage Pekuson (Kerala Blasters)
Amul Fittest Player of the Match: Marcelinho (FC Pune City)
Emerging Player of the Match: Ashique Kuruniyan (FC Pune City)
Hero of the Match: Mark Sifneos (Kerala Blasters)
