As expected, Trevor Morgan went back to a flat back four, and the result of that was a much more assured defensive performance, even if the Kerala Blasters could not add the gloss with a win over Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Super League.
A biggish crowd in Kochi braved a heavy downpour to watch their team, hopefully, find their winning mojo again, but a bit of poor finishing and a lapse in concentration cost them in the end as Chennaiyin held the home team to a 1-1 draw, with the Kerala Blasters forced to play the final 15 minutes with 10 men as Bruno Perone saw a red card for a high boot on Stiven Mendoza.
It was Mendoza who won Chennaiyin the penalty for their opening goal, with Elano, expectedly, putting away the spotkick expertly.
That goal in the 34th minute came after Sandesh Jhingan held onto Mendoza as a cross came in, and while it is an incident that goes unpunished a little too often, there really was no excuse for the Indian to put both his arms across the Colombian, who duly went down.
The opening goal was also very much against the run of play, with the Kerala Blasters, with Sanchez Watt, Chris Dagnall and Mohammed Rafi all starting, looking the much dangerous tea going forward.
However, it was Chennaiyin who went into halftime with the lead, even if that lead lasted only a minute into the second 45. Dagnall was the man to score the equaliser, getting on the end of a cross from left-back Saumik Dey.
The Kerala Blasters should have gone 2-1 up in the 50th minute as the home team were given a penalty, however, Josu failed to find the right pace and direction, with Karanjit Singh making a smart save.
Kerala were left to rue that miss as Perone saw red for a high boot on Mendoza, but Chennaiyin failed to take advantage of the extra man, with the game ending all square.
Watch the Kerala Blasters vs Chennaiyin FC highlights HERE
