Kerala Blasters forward Mark Sifneos heads the ball during the ISL match against Mumbai City FC in Kochi. Photo: Robert VinodKochi: Kerala Blasters were left to rue missed chances as Mumbai City FC held them to a 1-1 draw in an exciting Indian Super League (ISL) match here on Sunday.
Mark Sifneos ended Blasters' long wait for the opening goal of ISL Season 4 as the Dutch forward's strike handed them an early lead, but Balwant Singh's late strike dashed their hopes of a maiden win.
Blasters have three points from as many games and are in seventh place, while Mumbai, who have four from four matches, are in sixth spot.
-
ISL Season 4: Kerala Blasters vs Mumbai City FC
Everton Santos of Mumbai City FC in action against Kerala Blasters players. Photo: ISL
![ISL Season 4: Kerala Blasters vs Mumbai City FC]()
-
ISL Season 4: Kerala Blasters vs Mumbai City FC
C K Vineeth, right, of Kerala Blasters FC and Davinder Singh of Mumbai City FC in action during the ISL match held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi. Photo: PTI
![ISL Season 4: Kerala Blasters vs Mumbai City FC]()
-
ISL Season 4: Kerala Blasters vs Mumbai City FC
Everton Santos, left, and Dimitar Berbatov battle for the ball during the ISL match in Kochi. Photo: ISL
![ISL Season 4: Kerala Blasters vs Mumbai City FC]()
-
ISL Season 4: Kerala Blasters vs Mumbai City FC
Iain Hume of Kerala Blasters in action during the ISL match against Mumbai City FC. Photo: ISL
![ISL Season 4: Kerala Blasters vs Mumbai City FC]()
-
ISL Season 4: Kerala Blasters vs Mumbai City FC
Kerala Blasters forward Mark Sifneos scores a goal against Mumbai City FC during the ISL match at Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi. Photo: PTI
![ISL Season 4: Kerala Blasters vs Mumbai City FC]()
-
ISL Season 4: Kerala Blasters vs Mumbai City FC
Kerala Blasters midfielder Jackichand Singh in action during the match against Mumbai City FC. Photo: ISL
![ISL Season 4: Kerala Blasters vs Mumbai City FC]()
-
ISL Season 4: Kerala Blasters vs Mumbai City FC
Arata Izumi of Kerala Blasters, left, and Achille Emana of Mumbai City FC vie for the ball during the ISL match in Kochi. Photo: ISL
![ISL Season 4: Kerala Blasters vs Mumbai City FC]()
-
ISL Season 4: Kerala Blasters vs Mumbai City FC
Balwant Singh and Everton Santos of Mumbai City FC celebrate after scoring a goal against Kerala Blasters. Photo: ISL
![ISL Season 4: Kerala Blasters vs Mumbai City FC]()
Sifneos, who was handed a start by Blasters coach Rene Meulensteen in place of Iain Hume, latched on to a fine cross from Rino Anto and sidefooted it past Amrinder Singh in the Mumbai goal in the 14th minute as the crowd at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium erupted in joy.
It was Blasters who did all the early running.
Midfielder Courage Pekuson shot wide from the edge of the box in the fourth minute.
CK Vineeth earned a corner-kick in the very next minute and some desperate defending saw Mumbai avert danger off the resultant flag-kick.
The sustained pressure bore fruit in the 14th as Sifneos, who had come on as a substitute in place of Hume in the first two games, broke the deadlock.
Brilliant save
The goal spurred Blasters on and Vineeth's powerful shot from a lovely ball by Jackichand Singh was brilliantly parried away by Amrinder in the 27th.
Soon, Pekuson failed to hit the target from the edge of the area.
Against the run of play, Spanish forward Rafa Jorda had a chance to restore parity for Mumbai in the 36th. But he headed straight at Blasters custodian Paul Rachubka, who made an easy save.
Blasters failed to double the lead in the 42nd as Jackichand blasted over with Amrinder at his mercy.
Rino, who picked up an injury in the final minutes of the opening half, was replaced by Pritam Kumar Singh at the start of the second period.
Pekuson again shot over from inside the rival box shortly on resumption of play.
It was Vineeth's tun to squander a golden chance in the 55th as he fired wide. Blasters had a lucky escape in the very next minute as Everton Santos' shot hit Rachubka's legs and ricocheted off the post.
However, Balwant's strike in the 77th meant honors were shared. The striker pounced on a cross from Santos and beat Rachubka hands down with a first-time shot. The goal stunned both the Blasters players and the partisan crowd.
Red card for Vineeth
Vineeth was red-carded after picking up his second booking in the 89th as Blasters' frustration grew.
Earlier, experienced defender Wes Brown, who was expected to make a comeback after regaining fitness, was left out by Meulensteen.
Blasters, who had played out goalless draws with ATK and JFC in their first two matches, next meet FC Goa in an away tie on December 9.
