Kerala down leaders Pune

Kerala Blasters produced their much awaited attacking football to ground league leaders Pune City with a seamless 2-0 win at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Wednesday.

Chris Dagnall scored with a sumptuous half-volley on 45 minutes and Sanchez Watt struck on 60 as Kerala moved up from the bottom into seventh position on eight points.

New manager Terry Phelan could not have asked for a better launch and the relentless attacks they launched at Pune suggested that the final score could well have been different.

Ironically, it was Pune striker Kalu Uche who had the game’s first moment. He thought he had scored but the flag was raised on Lenny Rodriguez after he had pulled it in from outside. Jhingan flunked Kerala’s first chance on the other end.

Sanchez Watt raised the volume with his stepovers and a role in the hole seemed to suit him better but he reacted slowly to a Dagnall pass. Pune lived at the mercy of their generous hosts but Jhinghan stood tighter to Uche as striker’s header was smothered.

Dagnall broke the deadlock in added time, hitting the top right corner of the net with a thunderous left foot drive. Bheke’s cross was headed into the path of an onrushing Dagnall and he struck it with alacrity.