Pune: Pune FC fought back from a two-goal deficit to hold Sporting Clube de Goa in an I-League 2011-12 Round 2 encounter ridden with decisions that forced the home side coach Derrick Pereira make note of it.

For the hosts a goal each by striker Jeje Lalpekhlua (77th minute) and defender Chika Wali (81st) cancelled out the efforts of their Goan opponents which included a penalty-kick conversion by Kalu Ogba (26th) and a tap in by Frieman Peixoto (61st).

The draw was Pune FC’s second in two home games, while the one-point match result turned out to be same for Sporting as well.

Under lights at the Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune FC survived a close call when the Goan team’s striker Games Moga found the horizontal. Thereafter, taking time to settle, Pune FC found Moga to be a headache when he pushed forward.

With Caitano Costa and Chika constantly under threat, the prolonged midfield play both teams engaged themselves in saw 25 minutes of play consumed. During this period, Pune FC created their best chance when Izumi Arata, dug in a left footer from within the penalty-box into a melee of defenders and found the hand of one.

While the ‘hand’ went unnoticed and play continued, playmaker Douhou Pierre kept the opponents alert with defense splitting through balls.

At the other end, Sporting’s Moga went down to a determined Chika defensive shield on the edge of the box, which ended in the referee awarding a penalty-kick and much to the dismay of the home side. Kalu Ogba stepped up to find the net off the vertical.    

Pune FC used their flanks well to construct moves and often had Lester Fernandez and Venkatesh Shanmugam keep the opponents on the move.

Nearing the end of the first half, Pune FC went deep with Douhou on the right wing and cut into the box only to be brought down by defender Bisheshwor Singh, but yet had the referee cancel their appeal for the foul.

In the second half, Pune FC had Arata head into the hands of the ‘keeper, before Jeje had a half attempt to show their intentions. At the other end, Sporting through Moga doubled their advantage. Cutting in from left, Moga dribbled past couple of defenders to set up Mackroy Peixoto who's first try from close was blocked by keeper Shahinlal, but Freiman on hand tucked in rebound into open goal.

Pune Fc brought in fresh legs in Srikanth Ramu, Maninder Singh and then Subash Singh for Othallo Tabia, Venkatesh and Lester and with it brought in the needed thrust. Attacks came at will and in one such move initiated by Gurjinder Kumar on the left, the unmarked Jeje did well to loop his header over the keeper from inside the box.

Giving it all that they could, Pune FC forced three corners three minutes after pulling a goal back. With Subash Singh forcing a move, Pune earned their first corner, which led to another when Chika’s full blooded try got tipped over by the keeper.

Off the third, Pune FC leveled scores. The corner taken indirectly saw dohou passes to Srikanth, who cut past a defender to crosses to an unmarked Chika positioned inside the box. Chika utalising the opportunity of being unmarked headed over the keeper to make amends for the penalty he conceded earlier.

Subash almost got Puen FC the winner, but unfortunately his try from close deflecte off the keeper for a corner.

After the game, Pune FC coach expressed satisfaction with the result. He said “We created chances and we had two situations – the hand ball and the tackle inside the box go against us. But barring that and a result that could be different, it was a game where the players showed character. The referee spoilt the game,”