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A brawl at the end of the game as Blasi and Belfort have to be separated by both squads who are all on the pitch. Ugly scenes, this.
The South Indian derby finishes goalless for the first time in ISL history. Bernard Mendy went close for the hosts in the first half, while Belfort ought to have scored for Kerala late in the second half.
An odd game, as amidst all the firecrackers of Diwali, there wasn;t much of an explosion on the pitch.
The result leaves Chennaiyin FC and Kerala Blasters in the same place where they started, as they are on 4th and 5th place with 9 points each.
90+3' My word. A youngster has run on to the pitch, and Mendy ushers him away.
90+2' Chennai try to ramp up the pressure, but Kerala deal with it. Sabia also defuses a dangerous scenario as the Blasters counter.
90' 3 minutes of injury time to be added on.
90' Nazon collects the ball on the right edge of the box and shoots at goal, but Karanjit collects his low drive with ease.
89' SHOT! Rafique goes close from range with a low drive after Chennai are unable to properly clear a corner.
88' WHAT A SAVE! Karanjit keeps Chennai in the game! Kadio threads a brilliant through ball to Belfort on the left edge of the box, and he shoots early when 1-on-1 with the keeper, but Karanjit makes the save and concedes a corner.
86' SHOT! Rafique sends in a great cross from the right wing to his opposite number. Josu collects the ball on the left wing, and connects with the bouncing ball to smash a volley over the bar from a narrow angle. Great effort.
84' Nearly! Peluzo is sent clear down the left wing and the Italian tries to play the ball to the far post where Sahni awaits, but his cross is slightly overhit and the danger fizzles.
83' Chants of 'JE-JE; JE-JE;' fill the ground. It's clear who the crowd thinks will be the match-winner.
82' HUGE CHEERS in the Marina Arena as Jeje replaces Dudu.
79' Blasi plays a long ball forward to Peluzo, but he is about a yard offside. Nonetheless, the Italian has looked Chennaiyin's best outlet after coming on.
77' Good play from Jerry! He plays an intelligent ball forward to Peluzo on the left wing, and the Italian works his way into the box and tumbles after being tackled by a sliding Jhingan. Jerry keeps the ball alive and swings in a cross, but it goes out of play.
76' A couple of close shaves for the home side, as Chennai amp up the pressure. They can't fashion a clear-cut chance, though.
73' Duckens Nazon comes on to replace Rafi, as Coppell goes for the jugular.
72' ALMOST! Mendy you are a very, very lucky boy. He doesn't play the ball out of defence, and it instead turns into a pass to Rafique. The winger sends in a peach of a low cross, and all Belfort has to do is get his shot on target, but he shoots wide! Best chance of the game so far!
71' Great defending! Sabia does well to deny Belfort from charging into the box, using all his strength to deny the Haitian.
70' Peluzo is now on the receiving end of a foul as he is clattered into from behind by Pratik.
68' Peluso goes into the book after his elbow catches Jhingan when they both go up for an aerial challenge.
That's a big blow for Kerala and means that there will be a shuffle in the backline. Sandesh Jhingan has gone onto the centre of the park.
66' Peluso plays a nice ball through to Dudu, but Jhingan intercepts the ball before he can cause any danger.
65' OH DEAR! Disaster for Kerala Blasters as Aaron Hughes limps off with an injury. Pratik comes on to replace him.
64' SHOT! Siam Hangal runs at the Blasters defence, but his low drive is well wide of the post.
63' Succi is replaced by fellow Italian Maurizio Peluzo
63' SHOT! Succi collects a long ball on the edge of the box, turns and strikes at goal while off-balance, but his strike is mishit. That is his last contribution to the game.
60' ANOTHER CHANCE FOR KERALA! Belfort with a lovely first-time volley from the left edge of the box, but his snapshot goes wide of the far post. The Blasters have taken the game by the scruff of the neck now!
59' ALMOST AN INSTANT IMPACT! Rafi plays the ball to Belfort on the edge of the box, and he produces an ingenious backheel to set up Kadio, but he shoots well wide after having time on the ball.
58' Michael Chopra comes off to be replaced by Kadio. An unfit player for a very, very fit one. Good substitution from Coppell.
The finishing has been piss poor in the ISL. And Belfort isn't doing anything to make it any better.
56' CHANCE! Belfort plays the ball out to Josu on the left wing and makes his way in to the box, where he gets his head on the end of the Spaniard's cross but his header glances narrowly wide of the far post. Best chance of the night for Kerala so far!
Mehtab has been poor with his balls forward this season and that attempted cross more than sums it up about his season.
55' Jerry is a tough little boy, isn't he. He outmuscles Azrack off the ball, who is comfortably twice his size, but loses possession to Wadoo, who cleverly earns a foul.
53' Almost! Josu takes his corner short, and loses possession allowing Chennai to nearly take advantage on the counter-attack, with Dudu almost getting past two markers, but Hengbart cleared the danger.
52' LUCKY! Rafique sends in a tempting cross from the right and Mendy nervously clear the ball out for a corner. It strikes the cameraman, and Mendy checks up on him.
50' OFFSIDE! Raphael wows the crowd with a stunning turn and dribble, before lofting the ball to Succi in the box, who takes a tumble as he attempts to collect the ball. However, the Italian is pulled up for offside.
47' Kerala respond with a couple of forays forward as well, but the Chennaiyin defence stands firm, with Wadoo the latest to clear a cross from Kerala's right wing.
46' WHAT A START TO THE SECOND HALF! Hangal plays a lovely ball over the top for Succi to run clear of the Blasters defence, but Nandy is out to block the Italian's shot, after Jhingan does well to put him off.
This is another game that needs a goal desperately. Hopefully there will be one soon.
46' PEEP PEEP PEEP! Chennai get us underway!
The teams are back out on the pitch. There has never been a 0-0 between these two sides. Kickoff is moments away!
The second half returns in a few minutes. Stay tuned!
As for Marco Materazzi, the Italian will be fairly satisfied with his sides performance, especially since he has the likes of Jeje Lalpekhlua and Jayesh Rane to bring on from the bench if Chennai need something different in attack.
A major concern for Steve Coppell at half-time will be how poor his attack has performed. The Blasters have yet to even register a shot on target in the first half. Time for Belfort, Chopra, Rafi and Rafique to pull up their socks.
Not a Happy Diwali for either side yet, but lets hope for the second half to explode with some firecrackers of goals. Yes, those are some terrible puns #SorryNotSorry
So, the South Indian derby is all square at half time. The Super Machans have dominated much of the half, with Mendy having the best chance of the night midway through the second half. As for the Blasters, they have sat back and attempted to counter, but have been unable to test Karanjit in goal.
It's all to play for in the second half, and lets hope for a goal-fest. Stay tuned!
45+1' Almost! Chopra holds the ball up well and lays the ball off to Rafi behind him, and his subsequent pass to Rafique on the right wing ends with a deflected cross into Karanjit's grateful arms.
45' 1 minute of added time.
45' Great football all around! Jhingan sends Rafique clear down the right, and the winger just about manages to squeeze in a cross before the ball cross out of play, but Sabia read the cross and intercepted, clearing the ball out of play.
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This is Sunaadh Sagar for Sportskeeda signing off. Thanks for joining us and do catch coverage of Manchester United and Real Madrid's games, as well as the post match coverage of the ISL.