Kochi: Kerala Blasters came up with a much-improved performance in the second half to hold fancied FC Pune City to a 1-1 draw in their ISL match here on Thursday.
Mark Sifneos drew level for Blasters in the 73rd minute after Brazilian striker Marcelinho had put Pune ahead in the 33rd.
The draw, under new coach David James, took Blasters' points tally to eight from as many matches. The Yellow Brigade remain in eighth place, but James and the Blasters fans would have been a relieved lot with the result after they were outclassed by Pune in the first half.
Blasters' new signing Keziron Kizito was brought on in place of Dimitar Berbatov at the start of the second half. It proved to be an inspiring move as the Ugandan midfielder brought some much-needed life into the Blasters ranks.
Dutch striker Sifneos received a pass from Courage Pekuson and shot past Vishal Kaith in the Pune goal in the 73rd to restore parity for the home side. This was Sifneos' third goal in the campaign and it could not have come at a more appropriate time for Blasters.
The goal spurred Blasters on and Pekuson almost snatched a late winner, but he shot wide. To be fair, Pune deserved at least one point and it took them to the top of the league table. They went past Chennaiyin FC on goal difference.
Pune, who dominated the proceedings, broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute as Marcelinho notched up his sixth goal of the season after a delightful move. Keralite Ashique Kuruniyan provided a perfect ball to Marcelinho, who easily outwitted Blasters goalkeeper Subhasish Roy.
Early onslaught
The Pune strikeforce of Marcelinho and Emilano Alfaro tested the Blasters defense from the word go. The Blasters' defense had a tough time dealing with the set-pieces.
Blasters had a close shave when Adil Khan could not generate any power on his header from inside the box off a free-kick and the home side averted danger by conceding a corner-kick in the sixth minute.
Alfaro's shot was kept out by Roy in the ninth minute. Blasters had another lucky escape in the 15th when Roy failed to gather a shot by Jonathan Lucca and an onrushing Marcelinho could not connect properly.
Blasters had their first real chance in the 23rd, but Sifneos could not latch on to a flick-on from Iain Hume.
James went in with a 4-3-3 formation in his first game in charge after taking over from Rene Meulensteen. The Injured duo of Rino Anto and Berbatov returned for Blasters, while C K Vineeth remained on the sidelines for the second game running with a groin injury.
There was a sharp dip in the number of spectators who turned up to the watch the game at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, but in the end those who came to cheer Blasters went home happy.
Blasters next meet bottom-placed Delhi Dynamos in an away game on January 10.