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Pune FC continued their sound form with a clinical 4-1 victory over Air-India and raced to the top of the standings in the Under-20 I-League (Group-B, Mumbai) at the Fr. Agnel Football ground, on Monday.
The win was Pune FC’s second on the trot and was made possible through a goal each by striker Thongkosiem Haokip (53rd minute), substitute Deepak Kumar (62nd), Thangjam Abung Meetei (67th) and substitute William Lalnunfela (80th).
Air-India managed to equalize through Siddharth Nayak, who netted four minutes after his team conceded.
After today’s round, Pune FC and Mumbai FC share top–spot with 6 points apiece, but Pune FC (+7) are miles ahead on goal-average as compared to MFC (+4).
Pune FC began pushing early and in the opening minute Nikhil Kadam went clear on a solo only to fumble once inside the penalty box.
Thereafter, Pune FC dominated proceedings and held possession for long periods of the game.
The Mumbai side who took time to settle down stepped up their game and gave Pune FC a scare when custodian Amrinder Singh fumbled with a collection but was ‘lucky’ to get off as the opponent’s attacker missed.
With both teams combining well and locked in a battle-royale for supremacy, Pune FC broke the trend when F Lalrempuia tested the rival custodian Vikram Singh with an angular try that was parried away.
In the 35tth minute, David Lalbiakzara had a left footed try fly past the second post and with it shut out action for the first half.
Switching ends, Pune FC began strongly. Skipper Suji Kumar had a long try stretch the Air-India goalkeeper at second post.
Haokip, a repeated target by the Air-India players, then fell short of capatalising on a mix up between the goalkeeper and defenders 10-yards out, but going over.
Having missing a close-try, Haokip on his next chance did well to utalise the rival custodian missing the aerial ball off a corner-kick taken by Gobin Singh. Rearing up well, Haokip powerfully found the corner of the goal at second post.
Pune FC’s joy was short-lived with confusion in the back line and custodian leading to the goal.
Five minutes after the game returned to levels, Pune FC pushed into the lead again. Off a free kick taken by Gobin from inside the Pune FC half, Haokip did well to chest the ball down to Deepak, who came on for David at the start of the second half. With Haokip doing well to keep off a couple of defenders, the ball gave Deepak a clear look of the goal before finishing with an angular drive.
The goal propped up Pune FC and in a span of five minutes added another. Suji playing a through ball from the half line put Haokip in possession who did well to go solo. But as he moved in Abung who also ran parallel did well to utalise Hakips fumble and finish the move from top of the box.
Pune FC thereafter brought on William for Nikhil, who did well on the left flank and turned out to be a thorn for Air India. The substitution worked as William utalised the deflection that came off Suji’s try to knock in the fourth.
Up 4-1, Pune FC had Suji’s stiff try parried away, before William created a chance for Haokip with by cutting back and laying up a pass for Haokip inside the box. However, Hoakip went over with his attempt.
