A couple of inspired substitutions from Kerala Blasters head coach David James proved to be the game-changer, as the Kerala outfit came back from a two-goal deficit to snatch a 2-2 draw against Jamshedpur FC at the JRD Sports Complex.
Slavisla Stojanovic (71') and C.K. Vineeth (86') scored for Kerala Blasters after Australian legend Tim Cahill (3') and Michael Soosairaj (31') had put Jamshedpur FC 2-0 ahead in the first half.
Having drew the last two and three games respectively, both Kerala Blasters and Jamshedpur FC stepped out on to the field looking for a win. It was the latter who drew first blood, with Cahill heading the ball powerfully into the net from close range off Sergio Cidoncha’s corner. It was the Aussie World Cupper's first goal in India, and the fastest one in this edition of the ISL.
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Though Kerala Blasters were jolted by the early goal, they recovered well and continued to push ahead looking for the equaliser. But they failed in the final third, thanks partly to some disciplined defending from Jamshedpur FC and partly to some wayward passing from the Blasters players.
Soosairaj, who was troubling the Blasters on the left flank, doubled their misery around the half-hour mark when he latched on to a deflected ball from a throw-in, and curled the ball around the outstretched left arm of Kerala Blasters custodian Naveen Kumar.
When play resumed after half-time, James brought on defender Cyril Kali for Lalruatthara and replaced midfielder Keziron Kizito with Sahal Abdul Samad. The move started showing results as, in the 50th minute, Samad and forward Matej Poplatnik played a brilliant one-two, with the Slovenian's shot kissing the crossbar.
Five minutes later, Kerala Blasters got a golden opportunity to pull one goal back, when Stojanovic was brought down in the box by Sanjay Balmuchu. But Jamshedpur's veteran Indian goalkeeper Subrata Paul dived in the right direction to deny Stojanovic.
Midway through the second half, James brought in Seiminlen Doungel in place of Halicharan Narzary, and soon he made an impact on the game when his cross from the left was volleyed home by Stojanovic, much to the striker's relief.
Doungel was in the thick of action again in the 86th minute when he tore down the left flank and cut in a measured pass into the box where Vineeth pounced on it with a deft tap-in. Interestingly, Blasters could have had snatched a dramatic win had not Stojanovic blasted the ball away from target from right edge of the penalty area.
With the draw, Jamshedpur FC are fourth on the points table while Kerala Blasters are in the seventh position.
