ISL 2018-19: Kerala Blasters 1-1 ATK – 5 talking points

#3 Both teams lacked in attacking third

Kerala missed plenty of chances before equalising [Image: ISL]

The match was evenly poised till the 85th minute. Both the teams created numerous chances but failed to put the efforts into the back of the net. It was because both the teams lacked in attacking third.

In the third minute, Poplatnik found himself in a favourable position to head the ball home. However, his effort was saved by the goalkeeper. Seimilen Doungel, probably Kerala’s best player the field, created numerous chances and could’ve scored at least twice. But all his efforts went wide. Probably due to some urge that they got the equaliser late in the game.

Like Doungel, Garcia was doing the same role on the other side. He was also helped by Hitesh Sharma and Jayesh Rane’s incisive runs but nothing produced a goal. Uche was meandering around and never found enough confidence to put the ball into the back of the net.

ATK was more concentrated on their defence and ensuring to defend every ball.