Kerala Blasters 0-1 FC Pune City: 5 Talking Points & Tactical Analysis | ISL 2018-19

A relieved man
A relieved man

#2 Kerala dominated possession in the first half but were unsuccessful in the final third

Jhingan's delivery was often wayward
Jhingan's delivery was often wayward

Although Pune took the lead from a little 10-15 minute spell of purposeful football, it was the home side with more of the ball. In the first 45, they notched more passes, had as many attempts as the Stallions and more possession.

Time and time again, David James' men attempted shots and final passes, but they were rather wasteful in the final third. Either the final ball lacked conviction, or there were hardly any bodies in the 18-yard box.

More often than not, the players were too static. None of them offered any sort of movement or looked to run in behind Goa's three-man back line. Most of the forwards were nowhere. Pekuson was forced to go wide continually in order to find space, whereas Jinghan and Kali's poor deliveries didn't help the cause either.

In order to create something and enhance the build-up play, Stojanovic came off his lines and dropped deeper, thereby erasing himself as a focal point. Doungel and Narzary aren't wingers who like to operate in narrow positions - something that sucked their creativity out.

As a result, the Blasters didn't register a shot on target.

Quick Links