ISL: Rafi on song, but Pune take the honours
Pune City’s Tuncay Sanli celebrates after scoring winning goal against Kerala. (Source: ISL)
Synopsis: In a quick-paced tie, hosts FC Pune City overcame Kerala Blasters 3-2 at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune.
The Shorey Show
A sturdy Kerala defence worked efficiently to cut the supply of Pune’s front line. The hosts’ midfield was allowed to keep possession, but any attempt made to push the ball upfield was comfortably quelled. Eventually it took a moment of technical prowess to put forward the inch-perfect pass. Left back Nicholas Shorey chested down a headed clearance and, on the bounce, delivered a well measured cross that striker Kalu Uche headed home Pune City’s equaliser.
The former Reading defender later took the liberty of running at the opposition, weaving his way past three defenders before slotting a grounded pass to Uche, who took a first time shot to score his team’s second.
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Shorey also found himself as provider for his team’s third goal in the 71st minute – the winner. The 34-year-old stormed down the left and floated in another well timed cross, this time for Tuncay Sanli. The goal gave the Englishman the record for most assists in a match. Despite providing the Pune team width on the left flank, the left back also paid attention to addressing his defensive responsibilities. He made smart and clean tackles throughout the game. Yet from the defensive view, his clearances from his own box towards the fag end were the most crucial.
The first two changes the Pune City coach David Platt made were like-for-like defensive substitutions. Roger Johnson replaced Argentine centre-back Diego Colotto at the restart, and Ravanan Dharmaraj replaced right-back Pritam Kotal. The motive behind the moves may have been to reduce the threat provided by Kerala strikers Mohammad Rafi and Chris Dagnall, an aspect opposition coach Peter Taylor also suggested. The substituted pair struggled to handle the Kerala forward line, which attacked with pace and physical strength, overcoming the defensive pair regularly. Platt, meanwhile, asserted the changes were made owing to injuries both sustained during the match.
Rafi’s aerial menace
Kerala Blasters’ striker Mohammad Rafi scored a brace on the night. Significantly, his first goal, a towering header, became the fastest goal ever scored in ISL history, at just 48 seconds. The goal broke Wim Raymaekers 51-second record for the Delhi Dynamos last year. Incidentally, all the four goals he has scored this year have come through headers.
With four goals in the first half and five in all, the game itself, as both coaches asserted, was a spectacle for the audience. “The first half especially was very good for the neutrals, but not for me,” Platt said after the match.
An end-to-end match had both teams exchange possession regularly. Chances too came regularly. The fact that the first goal came just 48 seconds after the match started too worked well to ensure the game stayed open and remained closely contested.
