ISL 2015: Kerala and Chennaiyin share points in high-voltage encounter

It was the home side who looked the better of the two teams at the start of the game. Chennaiyin defender Mehrajuddin Wadoo had to make a goal saving tackle in the ninth minute to stop Sanchez Watt from providing Kerala with the lead.

With rain freshening up the pitch, both the teams tried a lot of shots from long range, but very few troubled the goalkeepers.

In the 30th minute, a long ball from the back put Chris Dagnall through on goal, but the Englishman couldn't apply the finishing touches, as Chennaiyin goalkeeper Karanjit Singh was quick off his line and smothered the chance.

Just couple of minutes later, Chennaiyin were awarded a penalty at the other end. Wadoo provided a cross from the left wing and Sandesh Jhingan brought down Stiven Mendoza in the box. The referee pointed to the spot and Elano stepped up to score an emphatic penalty.

The men in white came close to doubling their lead as Mendoza was allowed the space to turn and shoot from the edge of the box, but Stephen Bywater produced a good save to keep him at bay.

Meanwhile, Kerala midfielder Joao Coimbra picked up an injury and had to be replaced by Josu in the 41st minute.

The home side had a great chance to equalize towards the end of the first half as Bruno Perone picked out Mohammed Rafi with a long ball. Chennaiyin goalkeeper Karanjit rushed off his line and was caught in no man's land, but thankfully for him, Rafi's header went wide.

The visitors went into the half-time with a slim 1-0 lead.

Kerala came out all guns blazing in the second half as Chris Dagnall equalized almost straight from the restart. The forward found the back of the net after Saumik Dey picked him out in the box with a lovely cross.

Couple of minutes later Kerala wasted a big opportunity to take the lead as midfielder Josu's penalty was wonderfully saved by Karanjit Singh. The spot kick was awarded after Chennaiyin defender Mailson Alves brought down Peter Ramage inside the box.

The home side began to dominate the game as Chennaiyin could not even get out of their own half. Kerala had a host of free kicks, all delivered by Josu, where they came close to scoring.

In one of those free kicks, in the 61st minute, Josu picked out Dagnall in the box and his powerful header was kept out by Karanjit brilliantly, but Rafi somehow failed to hit the target on the rebound.

The biggest talking point of the match arrived in the 7t5th minute when Bruno Perone was shown a straight red after he caught Stiven Mendoza's face with the back of his heel in a nasty challenge.

Chennaiyin failed to take advantage of their numerical advantage though, as the match ended 1-1.

There was no movement in the points table after this result as Kerala Blasters remained rooted at the bottom. Kerala manager Trevor Morgan will rue the chances his team missed in the second half, when they were dominating the game.

Chennaiyin manager Marco Materazzi will not be too displeased with a draw in this game as they go level on points with Mumbai City FC and keep in touch with their rivals at the top.