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Pune FC worked to plan and cut Mumbai FC to size with a convincing 3-0 win in a second -leg I-League Round 15
encounter at the Balewadi Sports Complex, here on Wednesday.
The Maha-Derby went on the same path as the first leg with the rivals initially going for all out physical approach. However, this time Pune FC did well to keep pushing ahead and earn the result they set out for.
The win was spurred by a brace by striker Subash Singh (24th and 67th), who replaced the suspended Mandjou Keita, while wing-back Gurjinder Kumar (89th) rounded off the tally.
After initial exchanges that failed to materalise in the attacking third Pune FC managed to come up with something special.
Jeje Lalpekhlua, in the clear, was brought down for the second time in the match that earned Pune FC a free-kick yards into the rival half. Playmaker and skipper for the day, Douhou Pierre floated in the free-kick to which Gurjinder Kumar mistimed his jump and the ball went off a defender to Subhash on the wrong foot. Without wasting time, Subhash worked his way into the space behind him, turned and unleashed a snapshot to the far corner from an acute angle to leave the Mumbai FC keeper Nidhin Lal at the far end stunned.
With Pune FC strikers and mid-fielders showing great camaraderie in a long time, the absence of Mandjou Keita seemed to have worked well for this combine. The home team opened with Arata Izumi, who played full 90 minutes, something that Derrick Pereira hasn’t allowed this season.
Arata deserved to be among the scorers, but he would be happy to have assisted so many attacks that Pune FC carried leaving Mumbai FC flummoxed. The pace with which Pune FC played was something never seen in the recent past—showing that they have it in them to fire against any kind of opposition.
Going into the breather with the advantage, Pune FC took time after coming back to settle. And when they did they weaved out a fantastic goal. Lester Ferandez used the width of the pitch to find Arata Izumi on the left. Arata in one go took a shot on goal but found Peter Siddiqui body in the way. The rebound went to Subash who let loose a left footer into the far corner.
As Mumbai FC’s Gbeneme Friday failed to get going, it was Arata-Subhash Singh combine that won the day for Pune FC.
Mumbai FC tried to sneak past on a couple of occasions, but Friday and Co were not up to the mark on Wednesday. With a minute left for the regulation time to end, Gurjinder cut through the defence and slotted home the winning goal, much to the chagrin of Mumbai FC.
The match had two red cards flashed wherein Anas Edathodika (Pune FC) and substitute Keegan Pereira (Mumbai FC) were involved in physical altercation.
