ISL: Kerala Blasters make a comeback with a 2-0 win against FC Pune City

Chris Dagnall scored in the 45th minute and Sanchez Watt doubled the lead for Kerala in the 60th as the hosts registered their second win in the tournament.

Full time: Kerala Blasters FC 2-0 FC Pune City.

Three minutes added before full time.

85 mins: Bikash Jairu gets a chance to go for goal but he fires his left-footed shot wide. He was in a good position at the edge of the box and should have at least tested the keeper there.

82 mins: Didier Zokora has had a frustrating night and looks to take it out on Josu at the touchline. There is a bit of pushing and shoving but the referee calms things down before things get ugly.

72 mins: Rafi has been replaced by Antonio German for the final 20 minutes of the game.

66 mins: Kerala Blasters FC are dictating things at the moment and are passing the ball around beautifully. It is hard to believe that this team is bottom and the visitors are on top of the table!

51 mins: Having already scored the fastest goal of the ISL before this, Rafi almost doubles the lead for his team in the early minutes of the second half. The striker gets a free header inside the box but fails to test the keeper.

48 mins: Change in the interval for the visitors. Yendrick Ruiz replaces Kalu Uche for the second half.

The second-half kicks off.

Half-time: Kerala Blasters FC 1-0 FC Pune City.

GOAL! Chris Dagnall scores in the 45th min to give Kerala Blasters 1-0 lead

42 mins: Josu curls one into the box from the left flank towards Chris Dagnall but Roger Johnson makes sure he gets in the way and clear the danger.

38 mins: It has been all Kerala Blasters FC as Pune were just happy to defend for the first thirty minutes. The Stallions are starting to find their way into the game as the win a corner after Nicky Shorey's cross was cleared behind.

32 mins: Kerala have missed at least three chances to score against Pune in the first-half. They need to convert these chances into goals if they want to move up in the table.

26 mins: Chris Dagnall has just the keeper to beat! His task is made difficult by Steve Simonsen who comes forward and blocks the angle. The forward gets his shot away but fails to keep it on target. He needed more composure there but failed to keep his calm when it mattered the most. That could come back to haunt him if FC Pune City score.

14 mins: Rafi goes for goal from a long way out but fails to even test the keeper. Maybe the forward is better off attempting for goals with headers, all his goals so far have come from headers and it looks evident why.

10 mins: Lenny Rodrigues skips past Ramage in the box and goes towards the byline, he cuts the ball back in towards Uche who taps it in. However, the referee had already raised his flag as the ball had crossed the line before Lenny squared it into the box. Uche had already gone celebrating but much to his dismay, had to cut it short.

7 mins: Rahul Bheke sends a good curling ball from the right flank towards Rafi. The striker leaps the highest and heads it towards goal but fails to keep it on target. Good start for the home team.

5 mins: Kerala Blasters FC are taking things slowly at the moment. They are doing well to pass the ball around and work slowly towards an opening.

Its kick-off time in Kochi.

Starting XIs

FC Pune City

Steve Simonsen (GK), Pritam, Roger Johnson, Dharmaraj Ravanan, Nicky Shorey, Lenny Rodrigues, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Didier Zokora (C), Jackichand, Tuncay Sanli, Kalu Uche.

Kerala Blasters FC

Stephen Bywater (GK), Rahul Bheke, Sandesh Jhingan, Peter Ramage (C), Saumik, Joao Coimbra, Mehtab Hossain, Josu, Sanchez Watt, Rafi, Chris Dagnall.

6:30pm: FC Pune City have won only one game in ISL away from home and that victory came in the last season. They are yet to win a game on the road this season. Having conceded 8 goals in their last 5 away games, things don't look too good for the title contenders when they don't play in their own backyard. If they really want to stake a claim for the top spot, the visitors will have to start putting in some credible performances away from home.

6:25pm: The Blasters have not won their last three matches at home. However, they were in a similar position in ISL 1 as well. They put in a good string of performance in the latter half of the season to secure a place in the top 4. Can the Blaster emulate the turnaround of last season and make their way into the top half of the table?

Kerala Blasters are currently bottom of the table will aim for a much needed win when they take on table toppers FC Pune City in an Indian Super League encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Wednesday.

The last time these two teams met at the Balewadi, the Stallions went away with all three points in a thrilling encounter.

The match also saw Rafi score the fastest goal of the ISL which came from a header. Incidentally, 4 out of the 5 goals scored in that match were headed goals.