Pune: Pune FC aims for a league-double over Kenkre FC as they face off in a sixth round Maharashtra Zone encounter in the Under-18 I-League at the Cooperage Ground in Mumbai on Saturday.
The game will be a crucial one for leaders Pune FC (13 pts) as they hope to cement their position at the top of the table. Moreover, having logged a massive 7-0 win at home over fourth-placed Kenkre FC (3 pts), Pune FC are eager to complete their second double of the season.
Speaking ahead of the big game, Pune FC Coach Naushad Moosa said, “We beat them 7-0 in the first leg at home but we don’t want to take it easy. Kenkre is a good team and has improved a lot since then. Tomorrow, it will be a new day and a new challenge for us and we hope to keep up the momentum.”
Going into the game with a depleted squad, due to injuries and suspensions, Coach Moosa wants his players to rise up to the occasion. He said, “Against Kenkre, we will be missing three key players due to suspensions while we are already missing a few due to injuries. It does create an issue for us given the fact that they played an important role till now, but I have full faith on the entire squad. We have some good quality in the team and we look forward for a good game.”
For the record, Pune FC will be missing services of keys players Sanchayan Samadder, Ashique Kuruniyan and Sahil Panwar to suspension while Gursimrat Singh is out with injury.
Over the years, both sides have squared off five times with Pune FC logging three wins while playing out two draws. However, Pune FC have won both the games played in Mumbai so far and will hope to maintain that record with a win on the morrow.
The match will be played under floodlights and kicks off at 6.00 PM IST on Saturday.
Head-2-Head
24/10/2015 – Pune FC 7-0 Kenkre FC at Pune
27/01/2015 – Kenkre FC 2-5 Pune FC at Mumbai
02/01/2015 – Pune FC 1-1 Kenkre FC at Pune
21/02/2014 – Pune FC 4-4 Kenkre FC at Pune
17/01/2014 – Kenkre FC 0-3 Pune FC at Mumbai
