Kochi: Toward the tail end of ISL-3 a grandstand finish is assured as every other franchisee, except already qualified Mumbai City, is in with a chance to claim the remaining three playoff spots. Kerala Blasters and FC Pune City, tied on 15 points, and fifth and fourth in the table respectively, have acknowledged the situation as they face off at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Friday.
“We have to earn our right to be in the playoff,” said Kerala Blasters coach Steve Coppell, adding that it was a risky period to be involved in as “every team still has something to play for”. Mohamed Sissoko’s 68th minute strike cancelled out Cedric Hengbart’s third minute opener when the sides met early in the season. A lot has changed since then and making the meeting all the more unpredictable is the fact that both teams tasted defeats in their previous rounds.
Kerala were thrashed 5-0 defeat in Mumbai last week to end a two-game winning streak while Pune’s inconsistency has no parallel as after a pulsating 4-3 win at home to Delhi they lost away, 1-0 to NorthEast. “We reviewed that (Mumbai) game and we’ve done our business with it. We’ve learned what we cannot do… but my instinct is to attack and we’ll continue to do that,” said Kerala’s veteran English coach.
The 2014 finalists should feel they have the upper hand having racked up 10 points from their last four outings at home while Pune have lost, 2-0 and 1-0, in recent away games. Giving impetus to Kerala’s already favourable conditions in Kochi is the return to fitness of marquee and most reliable defender Aaron Hughes, whom they’ve missed in the last four rounds. Hughes’ recovery should relieve Sandesh Jhingan the burden of playing centre-back after his forgettable evening in Mumbai and instead he could keep out Pratik Chaudhuri.
C.K. Vineeth is likely to lead the line and fellow local lad Mohammed Rafi will be pushing for a start. Pune have a fully fit squad, but after landing in Kochi on Thursday after a long flight from Guwahati, assistant coach David Moliner said a timely recovery was the only thing in their mind.
