FC Pune City came from a goal down in the first minute to record a 3-2 victory against visitors Kerala Blasters FC at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium in Pune on Tuesday evening.
The highlight of the game was Mohammed Rafi’s goal for the visitors in the first minute, the fastest goal ever in the history of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL).
Rafi also scored in the 30th minute whereas Nigeria’s Kalu Uche came up with a brace for the hosts (goals in the 16th and 23rd minutes), followed by Tuncay Sanli’s winner in the 72nd minute.
Kerala headed into the game looking to avoid their third consecutive loss whereas Pune City went into this game on the back of the loss to Chennaiyin FC. The first half was filled with four goals with Kerala drawing first blood. Rafi took advantage of some poor marking to meet Chris Dagnall’s cross from the right flank inside the first minute and scored past Steve Simonsen in the FC Pune City goal.
Pune hit back through the Nigerian star Uche who got onto the end of Pune left-back Nicky Shorey’s telling crosses. Kerala did not sit back, however, and pressed for another goal, which came in the form of another header from Rafi. Rafi has now scored four goals in three games for Kerala.
The second half was a cagey affair, with both teams battling it out in the centre of the park. The winning goal came to the hosts, with Turkish international Sanli making the most of yet another inch-perfect cross from Shorey to score past Stephen Bywater, who was beaten ends up by the headed effort. Sanli was present all over the pitch for the hosts, attacking and defending simultaneously.
