ISL 2018-19: Alfaro misses penalty in Pune's 1-1 draw with Kerala
The draw takes Pune a slot ahead and they now sit at ninth spot with two points from five games while Kerala are in the fifth spot with seven points from five games
 "FC Pune City, Kerala Blasters FC")
FC Pune City vs Kerala Blasters FC (Photo: indiansuperleague.com)
Full-time report: FC Pune City fluffed their first-half lead to end their match with Kerala Blasters FC at Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium in Pune in a draw.
Marko Stankovic got Pune ahead with a stunning strike in the first-half. The Austrain got the ball outside the box on the left in the 13th minute, tried to go towards the centre before pulling the ball back and absolutely firing the ball with his left foot to the right top corner.
However, Stankovic's game was short-lived when he went out with an injury in the 26th minute and was promptly replaced.
Kerala kept stringing passes together and put in crosses after crosses to get the equaliser but the Pune defence stood resolute. Kerala did get through the Pune defence once, or so it appeared.
In the 41st minute, Kerala got a corner which was floated into the middle of the box. Amid the scramble, Krcmarevic got a touch on it but Kamaljit made the save and there was confusion over whether the ball crossed the ball. The referee initally awarded the goal before overturning his decision a couple minutes later.
Pune got the opportunity to double their lead in the 57th minute when they were awarded a penalty after Alfaro was fouled inside the box. Alfaro himself took the spot kick despite missing his last penalty kick earlier in the tournament. He powered his shot and aimed the upper left side but his shot smashed at the crossbar and went over the post.
Alfaro's penalty miss was quickly punished as four minutes later Nikola Krcmarevic pulled Kerala level. Kerala got a corner which was half cleared and the ball fell in front of Krcmarevic who squeezed the ball between Alfaro and the far post to make it 1-1.
Neither team was able to create any other worthwhile chance with the defenders of both the teams at the top of their games.
The draw takes Pune a slot ahead and they now sit at ninth spot with two points from five games while Kerala are in the fifth spot with seven points from five games.
9:19 PM
Minute 92 -- Rakip gets into the Pune box on the right and fires his shot away from the far post he was apparently aiming
9:18 PM
Minute 90 -- Four mintes of additional time
9:15 PM
Minute 87 (YELLOW CARD) -- Alfaro is the latest player to be shown a yellow
9:13 PM
Minute 85 -- Pune's Marcelinho takes a shot from outside the box. The shot takes a deflection but the goalkeeper spots it and makes the save at the far post
9:11 PM
Minute 83 -- Marcelinho's free-kick from outside the box knicks off the wall and flies into the crowd
9:10 PM
Minute 82 (DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION FOR KERALA) -- Kali comes out for Pekuson; Samad makes way for Lalruatthara
9:07 PM
Minute 79 -- Stojanovic gets the ball on the left, gets inside the box and looks to curl one in at the far post but misses his target
9:05 PM
Minute 76 -- Pune go on a quick counter. Marcelinho plays a little one-two with Alfaro in front of the box then fires his shot that flies over the bar
9:03 PM
Minute 75 (YELLOW CARD) -- Pune's Alfaro goes on a mazy run in the middle of the park with his twists and turns but is eventually clipped down by Vineeth who is shown a yellow card
9:01 PM
Minute 72 -- (YELLOW CARD) -- Pune's Fanai booked
9:00 PM
Minute 72 (YELLOW CARD) -- Pune's Matt Mills is shown a yellow card for bundling down Poplatnik in front of the Pune box
8:56 PM
Minute 68 (SUBSTITUTION FOR KERALA) -- Doungel out, Narzary in
8:54 PM
Minute 66 -- Vineeth tries and go for an overhead kick to a half-clearance off a corner but he completely miscues it
8:52 PM
Minute 65 (SUBSTITUTION FOR PUNE) -- Ashique comes in for Robin
8:52 PM
Minute 61 (GOAL!!) -- Kerala score! Nikola Krcmarevic is the man! Kerala get a corner and it's half cleared and the ball falls to Krcmarevic nicely who squeezes the ball between Alfaro and the far post. 1-1 now.
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First Published: Nov 02 2018 | 6:02 PM IST
