Pune: Pune FC put on a brilliant all round show as they demolished Mumbai FC 10-0 at the Cooperage Ground in Mumbai on Sunday to go top of the table in the Maharashtra Zone of the Under-18 I-League.
The star of the show was striker Ashique Kuruniyan (14th, 33rd, 56th & 79th minute) who struck four times on his first appearance and was well supported by striker Lalawmpuia (34th, 66th & 87th) who scored his third hattrick along with Chesterpaul Lyngdoh (48th & 68th) and Sahil Panwar (52nd).
The fourth round win was Pune FC’s (10 pts, GD +25) biggest in the competition’s history and the first time they scored ten times in a game as they moved to the top of the standings ahead of DSK Shivajians (10 pts, GD +22) on goal difference. Moreover, Pune FC maintained their one-hundred percent record in the Maha-Derby logging their seventh consecutive win.
The game began with some end to end action in the early exchanges, before Pune FC finally broke the deadlock in the 14th minute with striker Ashique slotting past the keeper on Sannik Murmu’s through pass. He then doubled the lead scoring from close after combining well with strike partner Lalawmpuia in the box.
Pune FC struck once again a minute later through Lalawmpuia held off a challenge before slotting home Sanchayan Samadder’s and make it 3-0 going into the breather.
It took Pune FC just three minutes to open their account in the second half after restart. Substitute Chesterpaul, on for Muirang at half time, chipped home from a narrow angle from inside the box.
Four minutes later, Sahil increased the lead when he struck home the rebound after Lalawmpuia’s freekick from outside the box was blocked by the keeper. Minutes later, Ashique completed his hattrick once again slotting home a rebound after Lalawmpuia’s shot was blocked.
Pune FC didn’t take their foot off the accelerator and continued to dominate proceedings. Lalawmpuia got his second when he struck home from 30-yards out to make it 7-0. Couple minutes later, Chesterpaul completed his brace striking home a stray ball from inside the box.
Ashique got his fourth and Pune FC’s ninth when he scored on a direct freekick from the right after Chesterpaul was fouled on the edge of the box. Eight minutes later, Lalawmpuia drilled the final nail in the coffin when he lobbed an advanced goalkeeper on defender Gaurav Bora’s aerial through ball to make it 10-0 and complete his hattrick.