Jamshedpur: Champions Pune FC bounced back to winning ways with a dominating 3-0 win over Sporting Clube de Goa in a Group-A Under-20 I-League encounter at the Gopal Stadium, Jamshedpur, on Saturday.
The margin of victory could have been bigger had striker L. William converted two chances in one-on-one situations with the Goan team’s goalkeeper in the second half.
Goals from skipper-midfielder Nikhil Kadam (7th minute), then striker Subasish Bose (27th) gave Pune FC a two-goal cushion going into the break. Substitute G. Karthik (80th) rounded off the scoring to round off Pune FC comprehensive win.
The win helped Pune FC (6 points; 3 matches) lead the group jointly with Salgaocar FC, who has played a match less. In the last group game, Pune FC takes on United Sikkim FC on Wednesday.
The loss put SCG (2 pts; 3 matches) out. Prayag United SC (1 pt; 2 matches) and United Sikkim (1 pt; 2 matches) remain the only outside threat. But the threat would mean both needing two wins from their remaining matches and include a match between them.
Pune FC went into the game making three changes; defender Anuj Negi, midfielder LH.Lalrinawma and striker Subasish Bose replacing Narendra Vakhare, Abung Meetie and Rugved Yeole.
The game kicked off with SCG playing defensively. Against the run of play, Pune FC utalised the first clear cut opportunity that came their way and had Nikhil find the net. The winger controlled a beautiful cross in from the left by Denechandra Meitei, which sailed over the Sporting defence, before controlling and finishing at the far post past keeper Rahul Yadav.
The defending champions kept harassing the opponents with attack after attack and doubled their lead shortly before the half hour mark. Playmaker F. Lalrempuia sent striker William Lalnunfela in the clear on the right, who cut back and beat Charles Cardozo. Find Subasish unmarked on the top of the box, William’s release gave Subasish time to cut past Akshay Dabolkar before hammering in a right footer off the inside of the second post.
A couple of half chances forced by Thongkhosiem Haokip, who timely checked as he tried; Nikhil hastily going over from an acute angle on the right and William’s feeble try into the keeper signed off the half.
At half time Pune FC led 2-0.
On resumption, the story was no different as Pune FC kept pressing, played the long ball to good effect causing confusion in the rivals half.
Three minutes after restart, Denechandra’s throw in caused problems on the left. Subasish collecting a rebound screamed the ball across only to have Haokip miss connecting a header.
Ten minutes later, Pune FC could of added a third through William. Nikhil controlled a clearance off a throw-in, raced down the middle to put William in the clear. The striker did well to go over the advancing keeper in a one on one situation only to have the horizontal come in the way and bounce back. The ‘keeper was alert to control Nikhil’s try on the second ball.
Midway through the half, William was once again denied by the keeper in a one on one situation after controlling defender Ranjan Singh’s long ball. William’s effort was into straight into body of the keeper, who have moved out to the top of the box.
At the other end, Pune FC custodian Avilash Paul was called into action for the first time in the match. Xavier Dias weaving past a rare faulter by defender Anuj Negi took a crack on goal, only for Avilash to come up with a calm save.
Into the final ten minutes, Pune FC shut up shop with a goal to admire. Having gone over the bar a minute ago, substitute Karthik made up within seconds after William sped to a long loose ball that rolled wide to the left. Finding Karthik clear, William released and watched his teammate slammed in his right footer to the far side leaving the ’keeper rooted.