FC Pune City came from a goal down in the first minute to record a 3-2 victory against visitors Kerala Blasters FC at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium in Pune on Tuesday evening. The highlight of the game was Mohammed Rafi’s goal for the visitors in the first minute, the fastest goal ever in the history of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL). Rafi also scored in the 30th minute whereas Kalu Uche came up with a brace for the hosts (goals in the 16th and 23rd minutes), followed by Tuncay Sanli’s winner in the 72nd minute.Kerala headed into the game looking to avoid their third consecutive loss whereas Pune City went into this game on the back of the loss to Chennaiyin FC. The first half was filled with four goals with Kerala drawing first blood. Rafi took advantage of some poor marking to meet Chris Dagnall’s cross from the right flank inside the first minute and scored past Steve Simonsen in the FC Pune City goal.Pune hit back through Uche who got onto the end of Pune left-back Nicky Shorey’s telling crosses. Kerala did not sit back, however, and pressed for another goal, which came in the form of another header from Rafi. Rafi has now scored four goals in three games for Kerala.The second half was a cagey affair, with both teams battling it out in the centre of the park. The winning goal came to the hosts, with Turkish international Sanli making the most of yet another inch-perfect cross from Shorey to score past Stephen Bywater, who was beaten ends up by the headed effort. Sanli was present all over the pitch for the hosts, attacking and defending simultaneously.Shorey’s three assists earned him the Hero of the Match award as his contribution from the left flank made all the difference to a game that was so even from the first blow of the whistle. The one positive that Kerala can take from the match is the form of Rafi, who is now among the leading goal-scorers in the tournament, behind only Chennaiyin’s Stiven Mendoza.Kerala now have three losses on the trot and are still languishing at the bottom of the table. In stark contrast, FC Pune City have moved to top of the Hero ISL standings on 12 points, two above FC Goa with a three goal difference.Club Award: FC Pune CitySwift Moment of the Match: Mohammed Rafi (Kerala Blasters FC) (Watch here)Amul Fittest Player of the Match: Kalu Uche (FC Pune City) (Watch here)ISL Emerging Player of the Match: Rahul Bheke (Kerala Blasters FC)Hero of the Match: Nicky Shorey (FC Pune City)
