Nikola Krcmarevic wrested a point for Kerala Blasters FC in a dramatic and hard-fought 1-1 draw against FC Pune City in the Indian Super League at the Balewadi stadium here on Friday.
The tall Serbian had a goal disallowed, gave away a penalty and then poked home the equaliser late in the second half. Marko Stankovic had fired in the first goal, raising victory hopes for Pune, only to see Emiliano Alfaro’s missed penalty resulting in the advantage slipping away.
Uruguayan Alfaro, wearing the captain’s armband for Pune, sent his spot kick onto the crossbar and over. The power behind the placement did the damage, leaving his side without a win after five games.
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Blasters’s draw was its fourth in five games and is in fifth position on the league table.
The home team started with Kamaljit Singh in goal, who seized the chance to defy the visitors with brilliant saves. His counterpart Naveen Kumar meanwhile took the first real blow.
Stankovic blasted the ball in from distance, sensing a chance and having the confidence to execute it with rivals busy ball-watching. The goal-scorer went off later after suffering a calf injury.
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The visitors, prodded into action after this 13th minute reverse against the flow of play, saw an appeal for goal disallowed by the referee. Krcmarevic’s celebration at having scored the equaliser — following a flag kick — was cut short as the referee pulled up the striker for rough play. The Serbian, in his anxiety to score, had pushed Kamaljit and then attempted to force the ball when it was already in the goalkeeper’s grasp.
The result: Kerala Blasters FC 1 (Nikola Krcmarevic 61) bt FC Pune City 1 (Marko Stankovic 13).