It was the same old script for Kerala Blasters, as they played out a 1-1 draw against ATK in the poorly-attended opening match (official attendance was only 4,582) of the second phase of the ISL 2018-19, in Kochi.
Taking the field under new coach Nelo Vingada, who replaced Englishman David James, Kerala Blasters rode a bit of luck to snatch the equaliser in the 88th minute of the match. Defender Cyril Kali floated a ball into the box from the right, where striker Matej Poplatnik managed to get his head to it. The ball bounced off the legs of ATK's Gerson Vieira, on to the top post and inside the goal.
Three minutes earlier, ATK had taken the lead from a free-kick after their new recruit Edu Garcia was fouled by Lalruatthara at the edge of the box. Garcia himself stepped up to take the shot and sneaked the ball under the wall, much to the frustration of Kerala Blasters's young custodian Dheeraj Singh.
In his first match in charge of Blasters, Vingada rang in the changes, with Nikola Krcmarevic and Matej Poplatnik given starts.
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ATK coach Steve Coppell welcomed Kalu Uche back into the team after the Nigerian forward returned to full fitness while new recruits Pritam Kotal and Garcia were also included in the starting XI.
Poplatnik threatened early for Kerala Blasters with his header going just wide of the post while Garcia made a lively start for Kolkata at the other end. It were the hosts who saw more of the ball in the opening quarter of an hour, but they were unable to create any clear-cut chances against the rival defence.
A quick Kerala breakaway at the half an hour mark saw Prasanth Karuthadathkuni cross the ball towards the danger area, but John Johnson was on hand to prevent Sahal Abdul Samad from getting a decisive touch.
Poplatnik once again threatened with a header following a cross from Lalruatthara but goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya managed to palm the ball away for a corner.
The visitors nearly took the lead against the run of play towards the closing stages of the first period with Garcia unleashing a fierce shot towards the top-right corner of the Kerala goal. Thankfully for the hosts, Singh produced a magnificent fingertip save to deny the Spaniard.
Singh was called into action early in the second half to stop Gerson Vieira's attempt following a cross from Ricky Lallawmawma. The young custodian was kept busy with Garcia driving a low shot from distance into his arms moments later.
The hosts should have taken the lead at the hour mark with Slavisa Stojanovic finding himself unmarked in the box but the Serbian blasted his shot high and wide with the goal at his mercy. Minutes later, Poplatnik got plenty of power behind his shot from Prasanth's layoff but Arindam pulled off an excellent save at the near post.
It was the seventh stalemate for the Kerala Blasters in 13 matches.
(With PTI inputs)
