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Chennaiyin FC and Kerala Blasters played out an exciting 1-1 draw in Friday's ISL match up, with both goals being scored in the dying minutes of the game. However, neither side will complain leaving with a point though.
Here are the major talking points from tonight's tactical battle:
#1 Wes Brown a calming presence in the middle of the park
For the second match in a row, Kerala's defensive rock Wes Brown, who is renowned as a central defender, played as a defensive midfielder tonight. Against Chennai, Brown was the calming presence that Kerala desperately needed.
Positioned just behind his defensive line, Brown kept things simple and effortlessly played out the ball to his teammates. The veteran went the extra mile and even provided cover to his left back, Lalruatthara, who often found himself double teamed.
Brown was omnipresent and hardly put a foot wrong, making a handful of crucial interceptions. His presence in the middle of the park gave Kerala's forwards impetus to move forward with freedom and also kept the back four at ease.
#2 No Raphael Augusto, no party
It's well established by now, Raphael Augusto is Chennayin's most important player. He makes the team tick and effortlessly helps his side transition from defence to attack. When he is silenced, Chennai more often than not, struggle. Tonight, Kerala's midfielders did a commendable job by keeping Augusto in check.
Kerala's double pivot, Wes Brown and Siam Hanghal had the measure of the Brazilian playmaker who found it extremely difficult to impose himself on the game, especially in the first half.
He was a mere spectator for large parts of the match, it meant that cutting edge was missing for Chennaiyin. Raphael hardly found space to run into. When he did have the ball, he was forced to play the simple passes and was stifled by the Blasters.
#3 Main man Rino Anto limps off in first half
Time and again, we've seen important players limp off in the ISL this season and tonight another crucial man felt the blow. Kerala's right back, Rino Anto who has been extremely influential for the Blasters this season, limped off the pitch in the 43rd minute.
Rino was at full speed when he made a crucial interception inside his own half. But it came at a price. He fell awkwardly and immediately went down, holding his right hamstring. It was not a great sight and Anto looked in extreme pain.
The defender has been a dependable figure in Kerala's back line this season and will be sorely missed. Here's hoping he returns at the earliest for the sake of the league. Anto has always given it his all on the pitch. Tonight, in his attempt to save his side from possibly a dangerous attack, he put his body on the line.
#4 Kerela finally break second half hoodoo
Tonight, Kerala Blasters played their sixth match of the season. Having scored four goals so far, the visitors looked poised to give Chennai a run for their money. But Kerala's second-half struggles continued.
While they have scored four goals this season, none of them have come in the second half. Simply put, they're a side that thrives on starting strong. When they don't, they struggle and that is exactly what happened tonight.
The Blasters were uninspiring in the first half and looked tired in the second. But an injury time tap in from CK Vineeth helped Kerala finally break their second-half hoodoo as they secured a crucial draw. Kerala left Chennaiyin with a well-deserved point.
#5 Sandesh Jhingan has a dramatic final few minutes
With Jeje in one team and CK Vineeth in the other, one expected a far more attacking approach from both sides tonight. However what transpired was completely the opposite. Kerala and Chennai lacked the urgency and the clarity, hardly creating any clear-cut chances.
Both sides cancelled each other out in the middle of the park. Tonight was not an attractive affair. Far from it. But the game came to life in the dying minutes of the game.
Sandesh Jhingan was unlucky to concede a late penalty. The ball never made contact with his hand. Rene Mihelic's late spot-kick looked like a sure shot winner but was followed by CK Vineeth's equaliser at the very death. Guess who played the ball for the forward? None other than Sandesh Jhingan. The centre-back was at full stretch and played across a splendid cross in the final minute of the match, thus redeeming himself.
