by
Pune FC got off to a perfect New Year start by registering a comeback
2-1 win over Mohun Bagan and log their first-ever victory over the Kolkata giants in an I-League Round-13 encounter at the Balewadi Sports Complex, on Tuesday.
The win was huge for Pune FC as it stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches, which matched the best achieved by Dempo SC in the first seven rounds.
Pune FC’s victory in this Round-13 encounter was spurred by a goal in each half by Jeje Lalpekhlua (36th minute) and Lester Fernandez (56th) after the visitors went ahead through Odafa Okolie in the 22nd minute of play.
In logging their sixth win of the season, Pune FC swelled their points tally to 22 points and retained fifth place on the table after the conclusion of the first leg of matches.
The hosts began playing Mandjou Keita upfront with Douhou Pierre in support apart from making a change in the defence (Anas Edathodika coming in for Gurjinder Kumar) and the mid-field wherein Baldeep Singh started which meant striker Jeje sat out.
Pune FC lived dangerously initially. They approached the game cautiously and in the bargain Bagan settled and pushed the pace into Pune FC’s half.
In the early minutes, Pune FC ‘keeper Abhra Mondol did well to stretch and deny a Hudson Lima free kick at the first post from 22-yards out.
As Pune FC settled it was Bagan who went one up against the run of play. Medio Jewel Raja Shaikh moved up and squared the ball to Odafa. The Bagan striker controlled and let go a firmly driven right-footed grounder that beat a diving Abhra who seemed advanced in position, which opened the gap.
Pune FC mis-passed constantly leading to an early change and an off colour Shanmugam Venkatesh made way for Jeje in a bid to add sting into the attack that fizzled in the final third.
The substitution earned result instantaneously with Jeje glancing a header home past a static keeper Sangram Mukherjee with his first touch after Lester Fernandez did well to beat a defender on the left and then float the ball in.
Changing ends, Pune FC came out stronger and created chances aplenty. Two minutes into the game N.P Pradeep brought down Lester on the top of the box which led to Douhou doing well with his effort. Beating the Bagan wall, Douhou agonizingly saw the keeper tip over at the last moment.
Pune FC playing with confidence took the lead through a determined run by Keita on the right who played a perfect cross across to lester who made no mistake with his head across the keeper.
Up 2-1, Pune FC went all out. Karma Tsweang missed a sitter after Keita put him in the clear in the box, then Keita shot wide from 8-yards after bulldozing past defender Anwar.
Towards the end of the second session Keita once again went close shooting into the keeper after getting in the clear.
With the game entering injury time a free-kick conceded by Anas Edathodika who fouled Odafa 25-yards out seemed hope for Bagan’s last ditch effort to equalize. But Anas made up with a block that denied Odafa, who otherwise was kept in check by the Pune FC defence.
