Kerala Blasters hold Atletico de Kolkata 1-1

Kolkata, Oct 26 (IANS) A depleted Atletico de Kolkata retained their place atop the points table with a 1-1 draw against Kerala Blasters, who claimed their first point in the Indian Super League (ISL) here Sunday.

Taking the field without their injured regular captain Luis Garcia, defender Denzil Franco, and suspended striker Fikru Lemessa, Kolkata went ahead through Baljit Sahni in the 22nd minute but Iain Hume levelled four minutes prior to halftime for the visitors in a colourless tie played at the Salt Lake Stadium.

Sahni drew first blood following a fast counter-attack that saw Jofre Mateu essay a low cross to stand-in skipper Borja Fernandez. The former Real Madrid player set up Sahni who unleashed a firm shot into the net past the left hand of Kerala Blasters goalkeeper David James.

The 30-year-old Hume latched on to a chance in the 41st minute to deny Kolkata their fourth win in five matches.

The Scotland-born Canadian player failed to control the ball in his first attempt but Milagres Gonsalves displayed fine reflexes to flick the ball back to Hume, who this time calmly placed home.

Kolkata, registering their second draw, are now on 11 points, four clear of nearest challenger NorthEast United FC. On the other hand, Kerala occupy the penultimate slot - above FC Pune City - with one point. Pune, however, take on FC Goa in the day's second contest later.

With Fikru given a two-match ban for head-butting FC Goa defender Gregory Arnolin, and Garcia still nursing a hamstring injury, Arnal Llibert started in the front for the hosts, whose coach Antonio Habas also could not take his place in the reserve bench following a four-match ban after a tussle with Goa's marquee player Robert Pires.

The absence of key players seemingly affected Kolkata, who were nowhere near their best. However, six minutes after Sahni's strike, Kolkata could have doubled the margin. Jofre's cross landed before an advancing Arnal, who failed to connect properly.

Sometime later, Kerala defender Cedric Hengbart saved his side's collapse with a last minute sliding tackle on Jofre.

The two sides went to half time tied 1-1 and failed to alter the scoreline till the final whistle.

Early in the second session, Kolkata was distinctly unlucky, as Sahni's shot off Jofre's cross hit the crossbar.

At the other end, Kerala came close to scoring in the 68th minute as Penn Orji's cross found Hume in the clear but the latter headed off target.