Another draw for Kerala Blasters

PUNE: Kerala Blasters recorded their fourth successive draw after being held by FC Pune City 1-1 in a Hero Indian Super League match on Friday. A class strike from Marko Stankovic (13th minute) put Pune City up and running only to see Nikola Krcmarevic (62nd) pull Kerala Blasters level in the second half.

The result pulled Pune City, still without a win, off the bottom of the table temporarily while Kerala Blasters have moved up to the fifth spot with seven points from five games.

CHENNAIYIN V MUMBAI

CHENNAI: Defending champions Chennaiyin FC will look to notch their first win of the season when they lock horns with Mumbai City FC in their ISL match on Saturday. CFC have made the worst possible start to their title defence, losing four of their five games. They are ninth in the points table with the solitary point coming from a 0-0 draw against Delhi Dynamos.

Defensive lapses by the reining champions has seen them lose at home, much to the chagrin of fans and coach John Gregory will look to plug the holes in the misfiring backline.

The absence of defensive midfielder Dhanapal Ganesh, owing to injury, has hurt the team’s plans and the move to try Inigo Calderon hasn’t paid off.

For a side known to have a strong defensive unit, CFC have already conceded 10 goals this season and Gregory would certainly be looking to repair his side’s defensive lapses.

BAGAN VS AIZAWL FC

KOLKATA: Former striker Ansumana Kromah will stand in the way of Mohun Bagan’s maiden win of the season when the Kolkata giants take on Aizawl FC in the I-league match on Saturday.

Once a vital cog in the Mariners attack, the Liberian became out of favour with the Shankarlal Chakraborty side because of his ‘bad influence’ on the team.

Donning the Peerless SC colours, Kromah headlined the recently-concluded Calcutta Football League by becoming the top-scorer with 11 goals that helped his side finish runner-up.