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Pune FC kept their hopes of making the semifinals intact playing out a 1-1 draw against Prayag United SC in a Group-D Federation Cup encounter at the JRD Stadium, on Saturday.
The draw took Pune FC’s points tally to 4 points and into second place behind Salgaocar SC (6 pts) after two rounds. Pune FC faces off with Salgaocar SC on Monday to decide their fate of progressing into the knock out round.
Trailing by a first half goal by United SC striker Carlos Hernandez (13thminute), Pune FC found the equalizer through their midfielder Arata Izumi (62nd minute). Arata’s second half strike was his first of the season and the second for Pune FC in the Fed Cup.
Pune FC went into this crucial encounter making two changes to their lineup. Defender N Mohanraj and midfielder Karma Tsewang made way for Caitano Costa and Gurjinder Kumar.
With a slushy pitch to deal with, Pune FC was the first to attack and also have a shy on goal. Striker Jeje Lalpekhlua, finding himself in range let go but wide off target.
At the other end, United SC forced a corner-kick, which fizzled after Pune FC custodian Amarinder Singh was fouled.
Six minutes into the game, Pune FC had a close moment. The opponents’ strikers Carlos Hernandez chipped the ball for Ranti Martins inside the box for a header that was put wide.
An ambitious Srikant Ramu, from the right, had a looping cross go over before Jeje moving in to a move developed from the left ended shooting wide.
Off the second United SC corner-kick, Pune FC went in arrears. Shylo Malswaltluanga swinging cross to the far post found Gouramangi head the ball across for Carlos to finish powerfully past Amarinder.
Minutes later, Pune FC had the goal post come to their rescue, before regrouping and moving out the pressure by attacking the opponents’ goal. In a span of seven minutes, midfielder Arata Izumi had two shots go wide. First going over from inside the box and then shooting wide a layoff by Jeje.
Arata was once again in action when he went over after his teammates negotiated a well worked corker kick.
Jeje then had a soft chip into ex-Pune FC and present United SC ’keeper Subrata Paul’s hands.
With Pune FC having their moments of advantage, United SC constantly pressured the defence who stood up well. Both Ranti and Carlos went in but were off the target.
Two minutes before half time the Pune FC defenders did well to save Ranti’s try on the line after Rafique on the right managed to cut back and deceive ’keeper Amarinder.
At half time, United Sc went in with the one goal cushion.
On resumption, Pune FC let go of a golden chance to equalize. Gurjinder put in a low cross into the 6-yard box only to have his attackers fall short in connecting by inches.
Constant build ups by Pune FC led to another close moment worked by Jeje. Holding off defender Gouramangi, Jeje moved into the box and released a try that stretched Subrata.
At Pune FC’s end, Amarinder punched out Carlos’ well taken direct free kick which was awarded in a wide position.
An ensuing melee at the opposite end was let away by Pune FC, before finally penetrating United SC’s goal. The architect of the equalizer was medio Douhou Pierre whose cross from the right was nodded home by Arata.
Back on even keel, it was the defenders and Amarinder who gave it all and frustrate the opposition. The closest was Amrinder’s save off Carlos free-kick, which was taken low and hard from outside the penalty box.
Pune FC then brought on Japanese Daisuke Nishiguchi for Subash Singh. Ten minutes on and Daisuke was in goalmouth action. Rising to an connect an Arata cross, the ball looped back to Gurjinder, who set up Jeje. The striker, however, ended wide with the attempt.
With the rains making its presence, Pune FC once again had Amarinder stand tall.
Two minutes from full-time Pune FC had one last try. A long free-kick played by Caitano Costa was met by Daisuke in the box, who ended misdirecting the ball. Off the ensuing rebound, Mumtaz Akthar had a go, but wide.
