ISL 2017-18: Kerala Blasters winless after 3 home matches, held to a 1-1 draw by Mumbai City

Courtesy: Twitter (@IndSuperLeague)

Kochi: Kerala Blasters' winless streak continued as they were held to a 1-1 draw in their third home match of the Indian Super League season four here today.

The Blasters' striker Mark Sifneos may have ended 194 goal-less minutes for his side this season but Rene Muelensteen's team is still winless after Mumbai City forward Balwant Singh got an equaliser in the 77th minute.

Sifneos swept in Rino Anto's cross to give the home side the lead in the 14th minute. It was Dimitar Berbatov, stellar on the night with his incisive passing from midfield, who threaded a pass through to Anto.

The right back did not make any mistake in picking out Sifneos, who steered the ball past Mumbai City goalkeeper Amrinder Singh in front of a delirious Kochi crowd.

And just when it seemed that Blasters had done enough to record their first win of the season after two 0-0 draws in a row, Balwant thumped in a low cross from Everton Santos in the 77th minute.

It was a game of missed chances and drama in front of goal as Santos' shot was brilliantly saved by Paul Rachubka onto the woodwork and Blasters striker C K Vineeth was sent off in the dying minutes after a second yellow card for diving.

The Blasters had made their intentions clear from the start when Courage Pekuson dragged his shot wide from outside the box in just the fourth minute. Within the next 60 seconds, Kerala sent in a series of crosses from both sides, but Mumbai somehow saw off the storm.

Jackichand Singh found Vineeth with a long ball but the forward's brilliant turn and shot was saved. Jackichand was at the receiving end in the 43rd minute when Berbatov found him with an inch-perfect lobbed through ball but the Indian winger shot it over despite having options in the middle of the six- yard box.

Squeezed between these two chances was Mumbai City's only meaningful attempt on goal when Rafa Jorda headed Abinash Ruidas' cross straight to the keeper.

Berbatov, who had done most of the passing for the Blasters, had his own attempt when his header from a corner flew straight to Amrinder at the stroke of half-time.

The home team started the second half just like the first when Pekuson blasted his shot over from a tight angle and so did Vineeth when Lalruatthara's cross found him at the far post.

Balwant had another chance as the game opened up in the last 10 minutes, but his first-time shot from a clever flick in the box was scuffed and petered out of play.

The Blasters, despite being down to 10 men, pushed bodies forward but Mumbai City held on to a draw with Berbatov shooting over the bar with virtually the last kick of the match.