ISL 5: Bhumij's late strike helps Mumbai City hold Kerala Blasters

KOCHI: Pranjal Bhumij scored a stoppage time target to help Mumbai City FC cling hosts Kerala Blasters to a 1-1 draw in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) here on Friday.

Halicharan Narzary's 24th minute strike seemed to have put the Blasters on track for three points but Bhumij came up with a long-range stunner in stoppage time to rescue some extent for the Islanders.

Having overwhelmed ATK away from house of their opening fit, Blasters' trainer David James named an unchanged XI for the clash with Matej Poplatnik and Slavisa Stojanovic continuing to steer the road up top.

Jorge Costa, however, made as many as four adjustments to the aspect which misplaced to Jamshedpur FC with Raynier Fernandes, Sehnaj Singh, Arnold Issoko and Shouvik Ghosh being drafted into the taking part in XI.

Kerala Blasters began smartly with a very good low move by Seiminlen Doungel from the left-flank in the 3rd minute which discovered Narzary but Mumbai custodian Amrinder Singh placed himself smartly to disclaim the Kerala winger.

The hosts persisted to threaten the Mumbai target with their two wingers having a look specifically full of life they usually got a deserved lead in the 24th minute.

An excellent back-heeled cross by Krcmarevic launched Doungel into the field and the right-winger lower the ball again to an unmarked Narzary. The left-winger took a marginally to set himself up sooner than slamming a fierce left-footed shot which beat Amrinder at his near submit.

The guests had been camped of their own-half for much of the first-half with Poplatnik causing them all forms of issues together with his motion.

With their attack isolated, Costa's men didn't create any uncomplicated chances as the Blasters took a one-goal lead into the interval.

James' men maintained their supremacy at the beginning of the second one period with Doungel blasting one vast over the bar after being arrange by Lalruatthara.

The Islanders grew into the sport slowly with Issoko specifically enterprising on the appropriate flank.

But an off-colour Rafael Bastos didn't help their reason as strikes broke down in the final 3rd.

Issoko discovered himself in some space in the field in opposition to the hour-mark after being launched by Raynier Fernandes but the Congolese's shot failed to trouble Dheeraj Singh in Blasters' target.

Costa hooked Paulo Machado to bring on Matias Mirabaje in a bid to find a ingenious spark as Kerala seemed to Keziron Kizito and Courage Pekuson to shore up things.

Mirabaje did upload some impetus to Mumbai's assaults after coming on but clean openings persisted to evade the guests. It was once the hosts who persisted to appear the more practical with Keziron having a look specifically threatening on the wreck.

Stojanovic must have doubled the Blasters' lead in the demise minutes after discovering acres of space in the Mumbai field following a move from Pekuson. However, the Serbian ahead didn't get a transparent connection to the ball after taking a wild swing.

At the opposite end, Dheeraj's failure to deflect a high ball intended Moudou Sougou had the target at his mercy but his shot on the flip went vast.

Blasters' wastefulness came again to chew them in added time with 19-year-old Mumbai replace Bhumij drawing parity with a sensational strike from distance that gave an absolutely outstretched Dheeraj no chance and rescued some extent for Mumbai City.