Samir Zeljkovic, Bede Osuji and Dani Ramirez struck once each in the first half as Punjab FC defeated Kerala Blasters FC 3-1 for a third consecutive triumph in their Indian Super League here on Saturday. Punjab FC climbed to fifth place in the table with eight points from five matches, while Kerala Blasters remained 13th with just one point from six outings. Zeljkovic was adjudged Player of the Match for his performance. Kerala Blasters head coach David Catala named an unchanged starting XI for the first time this season, while his opposite number Panagiotis Dilmperis made three changes, two of them enforced. Pramveer Singh came into defence in place of Pablo Renan Santos, Osuji started up front for the suspended Nsungusi Effiong, and Muhammad Suhail returned in place of Leon Augustine. Punjab FC started with high intensity and kept their opposition under sustained pressure, which paid off with an early breakthrough. Khaiminthang Lhungdim spotted Zeljkovic and lofted a pass into