Pune test awaits Kerala

Even though Mohammed Rafi recorded the quickest goal in ISL history last week, on 48 seconds against Pune City, Kerala Blasters will not want to go overboard should they score first again. That is because Kerala have lost two of the last three games having taken an early lead.

Memory of the 3-2 defeat at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex despite Rafi’s surprise strike will come back to haunt them as they host leaders Pune in the eighth round in Kochi on Wednesday.

The present meeting is significant as it was in the aftermath of the previous one that manager Peter Taylor lost his job. Since then Kerala have changed personnel twice. Trevor Morgan who managed against Chennaiyin has been replaced by grassroots head Terry Phelan.

But Morgan, reinstated as assistant manager, is likely to call the shots with Phelan set to be a watchful presence in the dugout. Morgan has urged his players to learn from mistakes against Pune and “take the game to the opponents”.

“We came up against them last week and fell short,” said Morgan alongside Phelan, taking most of the questions. “We are asking our players to learn from that.”

Pune left-back Nick Shorey wreaked havoc on Kerala with all three assists, the most in an ISL game ever. Morgan is hoping they can shore up the defence. “We’ll have to probably win four or five games to have a chance to get to the playoffs,” said Morgan. Pune head coach David Platt expects a tough game but is confident they will not be displaced from the top four irrespective of the outcome.

NE United hold Delhi

In New Delhi, NorthEast United held the second-placed Delhi Dynamos 1-1.Richard Gadze (37th minute) opened the scoring for the hosts, who kept the lead in the first half. A 72nd minute strike from Simao Sabrosa saw NE United pull level as the teams split points.