Pune: Pune FC will take on Prayag United Sports Club in the 20the I League match at the Balewadi Sports Complex, on Sunday. Pune FC will be upbeat after their win over Dempo in Goa.
Besides wanting to set the record straight after losing the first leg 1-5, Pune FC’s worst loss since their inception, the home side would want to drive the home advantage and go further up in the standings.
The league table as it stands separates position 2-7 by just four points which means full points will surely make them move up.
“We need to perform to our potential,” said Pereira. “All credit to the boys to come back from the difficult time of having to deal with defeat against Sporting Clube de Goa in 18th round. They performed well after the demoralizing match wherein a 2-0 lead ended with a huge defeat,” the coach referred to Pune FC’s the Goa tour.
About Prayag, the coach said, “They are a good side. A well balanced side and very importantly have an experienced back-line.”
Though Prayag with 32 points, one more than Pune FC, is a formidable side, they are not good travelers having picked up only 7 points from six games out of Kolkata, the lowest amongst the top nine teams. Moreover, Pune FC have not lost at home in an I-League game.
Pune FC will also be at advantage that Prayag will be without at least two of their foreign strikers. In the 19 previous games, the Kolkata team has played two from Kayne Vincent, Yusif Yakubu and Josimar Martins always, but Josimar is suspended and Kayne injured, leaving only Yakubu to do the attacks.
“We are in better shape that the last time we played them,” Pereira said referring to the first-leg played in Kolkata. “Keita (striker) was not in the team back then… and that match is the past.”
On Prayag missing the services of three key players skipper Lalkamal Bhowmick (injury) included, the Coach said, “we need to take advantage of the situation. But then again it remains an eleven versus eleven situation and we need to perform to potential.”
Pune FC will have a full squad to choose from, with defender Chika Wali getting back into the squad after serving a one-match suspension against Dempo SC in Goa. However, coach preferred to keep his views at, “There will be changes in the 18-man team.”
By Indian Sports News
