ISL 2017/18, Match 62: FC Pune City vs Kerala Blasters, 5 Talking Points

The referee was again in the spotlight but Kerala Blasters dug deep to secure a vital 2-1 win against FC Pune City in Friday's ISL encounter. The visitors took the lead courtesy a splendid long-range effort from Jackichand.

Alfaro won and scored a penalty late on but that equaliser was mired in controversy. CK Vineeth had the final say of the game, scoring a splendid strike from distance to give his side all three points.

#1 Kerala pose questions early on but not lethal enough

Realising that nothing less than a win would suffice, Kerala Blasters started tonight's game on an extremely positive note. They passed the ball with precision and intent, always looking for the shortest route towards goal.

Jackichand, CK Vineeth and Iain Hume were involved in the thick of things and attempted to make things happen in the final third. FC Pune City who have been dominant for large parts of the season looked a bit out of sorts.

Goalkeeper, Vishal Kaith made a glaring error, miskicking his shot inside his own box, early in the first half. The loose ball fell kindly to Hume but his squared ball was far too strong for Vineeth. Time and again Kerala managed to get into dangerous areas but failed to finish off their moves.

#2 Erratic Lakic Pesic puts his team at risk

While his team continued to chip away in the oppositions final third, Kerala Blasters centre-back, Lakic-Pesic was riding his luck with some extremely rash and erratic defending. Pune hardly had a sniff at goal in the first half, when they did, Pesic made sure to impose his presence but did so in a cynical manner.

The Serbian was lucky not to concede a penalty post which he went on a rampage of hard-hitting tackles and finally received a yellow card for all his troubles.

His barge into Marcelinho inside the box was reckless and he was fortunate that the referee did not decide to point to the spot kick. Time and again he put his team at risk and looked a tad slow all night long.

#3 Pune coach, Ranko Popovic sent to the stands

There are some things that never change and an angry Ranko Popovic happens to be one of them. Throughout the first half, FC Pune City's coach was at it, arguing with the fourth official every time he felt the need to do so.

Having been heavily fined and suspended just a couple weeks back, one would have assumed Popovic would be far more reserved in his approach. However, he couldn't help himself and made no effort to suppress his emotions.

He was theatrical in every sense of the word and it made for great T.V viewing. But the referees were having none of it. After being told to calm down at least five times, he was finally sent to the stands for his over exuberance on the sidelines.

#4 Jackichand Singh scores a screamer to give Kerala the lead

This wasn't written in the script. Slowly but steadily Pune's influence on the game was growing and Kerala looked vulnerable in the second half. But against the run of play, Jackichand scored an absolute rocket of a goal to give the Blasters a crucial lead.

Pune cheaply gave away possession in the middle of the park. New boy, Gudjon Baldvinsson calmly slid the ball across to Jacki who took a touch before unleashing a venomous shot from distance.

There was no way Pune keeper, Vishal could get his hands on that one. The shot had swerve, power, accuracy and nestled right into the top right corner. Just when Kerala were second best on the ball, up stepped Jackichand to put a smile across coach, David Jame's face.

#5 CK Vineeth genius erases blunder from the referee

A ghost continues to haunt the Indian Super League and it refuses to disappear. Yet another game was decided by a massive blunder from the referee and this will not go down well with Kerala's faithful.

Blasters keeper, Subhasish Roy raced towards the ball and won it inside the box before Alfaro managed to get there. Pune's striker made the most of it and dived despite no contact being made by Roy.

And as usual, the referee did not think twice before pointing to the spot. Kerala looked down and dejected and a draw was on the cards. Up stepped CK Vineeth. Kerala's favourite expertly controlled a long ball from Pekuson before unleashing a magnificent long-range effort which blasted into the top right corner. His goal meant Kerala left Pune with all three points.