Sissoko equalizer gives Pune first home point

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:54 am
Mohamed Sissoko (L) celebrates his goal for FC Pune City against Kerala Blasters with teammate Tato at the Balewadi Stadium, Pune.
Mohamed Sissoko (L) celebrates his goal for FC Pune City against Kerala Blasters with teammate Tato at the Balewadi Stadium, Pune.
Vipin Pawar/ISL/SPORTZPICS

FC Pune City took their first point at home with a 1-1 draw against Kerala Blasters after Mohamed Sissoko cancelled out an early goal by Cedric Hengbart at the Balewadi Stadium on Monday.

Kerala took the lead through Hengbart in the third minute while Sissoko equalized in the 68th minute courtesy a big deflection off Aaron Hughes. It was Sissoko's first goal for Pune and only the second scored by a marquee this ISL season.

Though the scoreline was a fair reflection of how the teams played throughout, the numerous missed chances meant it could have been anyone's game in the end.

After two losses at home -- against Mumbai City FC and NorthEast United FC -- Pune fought hard to come back and earn a draw. For Kerala, Sandip Nandy's goal line was finally disturbed after two clean sheets.

Pune made five changes to the team that lost to NorthEast, with Narayan Das, Rahul Bheke, Bruno Arias, Arata Izumi and Dramane Traore all playing. Arias was added half an hour before kick-off after Pitu was ruled out with an injury picked up during practice. Kerala made only one change with Duckens Nazon starting ahead of Kervens Belfort.

Kerala took the lead after center-back Hengbart smashed the ball in from close range. The chance came about after a corner cleared by the Pune defence fell to Nazon, whose long-range shot goalwards fell to the unmarked Hengbart. The defender promptly scored his first ISL goal, which was also the fastest of the season so far.

Tato, Pune's most dangerous player going forward in the first half, created two chances in the first 10 minutes. The first was a shot that was deflected for a corner. The second, a cross from the right, found no takers in the box.

In the 15th minute, Tato himself came close to scoring when a shot from the outside of his right foot just whisked past the top corner. He was in the spotlight again in the 23th minute when his cross from the right flank found Traoré, but the latter's jump didn't connect well enough and the ball flew over the bar.

Mohamed Sissoko (L) celebrates his goal for FC Pune City against Kerala Blasters with teammate Tato at the Balewadi Stadium, Pune.
Mohamed Sissoko (L) celebrates his goal for FC Pune City against Kerala Blasters with teammate Tato at the Balewadi Stadium, Pune.
Vipin Pawar/ISL/SPORTZPICS

Kerala had been strengthened in defence by the addition of their captain, Aaron Hughes, back after his international break with Northern Ireland. With him in the centre of the defence along with Hengbart and Sandesh Jhinghan, Pune found it hard to penetrate the Kerala backline. Jonatan Lucca, largely impressive for Pune this season, cut a frustrated figure throughout the game.

Kerala's next chance came 10 minutes before the half ended, when Mehtab Hossain's drive from 25 yards went past the top corner. A one-two by Mohammed Rafi and Michael Chopra had started the move that set Mehtab up for the shot.

The first half ended in controversy. Hengbart tackled Sissoko in the box and replays suggested the defender didn't get a clean tackle. But the referee was unfazed by the protests and Kerala went into the break leading the hosts.

The second half began well for Pune, with two chances in the first 10 minutes. The first was denied by a smart diving tackle from Hughes who stopped a shot from Gouramangi Singh. Then striker Traore came close to intercepting a back pass from Josu Currias to keeper Nandy but was denied at the last moment.

Two minutes later Traore scored from a great ball from Rahul Bheke, but the goal was ruled offside.

Pune's relentless attacks bore fruit in the 68th minute. Sissoko's shot from the edge of the box took a massive deflection off Hughes, and Nandy could only see the ball roll into the bottom right corner.

The game sprang into life after the equalizer. Pune consistently had the ball, but it was Kerala who had the best chance to take the lead.

Steve Copppell bought in Farukh Choudhary in place of Rafi. The winger, however, was denied from close range by an excellent save from Edel Bete. Didier Kado, who replaced Chopra, took an ambitious shot which fell to Farukh off a massive deflection. Farukh, who had plenty of time to shoot, cushioned the header but was denied by a diving Edel.

Both teams had a couple of more chances at the death but great defending -- especially from Pune's Josu and Das -- meant there was to be no late winner.