Team Herald
MAPUSA: Pune Football Club put up a stiff challenge before registering a 2-1 win over Sporting Clube de Goa to enter the final of the All India Bandodkar Gold Cup organised by GFA at Duler Stadium, here, on Monday.
At half-time both the side were tied at 1-1 with Nigerian Ndidi Chukwuma scoring in the very 3rd minute taking Sporting Clube into the lead while Buanthanglun Samte netted in the 14th minute to bring Pune FC on level terms.
Sporting Clube did not waste much time and shot into the lead in the very 3rd minute of play, from the penalty spot after Pune FC’s Rajat Kumar brought on a harsh tackle of Sarineo Fernandes, thereby prompting the referee to point to the penalty spot.
Ndidi who took the responsibility of taking the kick made sure that he put his team ahead, 1-0.
Thereon Sporting Clube had several opportunities to further increase the margin. However, Pune FC keeper Anuj Kumar did remarkably well to thwart Moises D’Sa and Ndidi from scoring in a one-to-one situation.
Pune FC finally managed to restore parity in the 14th minute of play when Mohd. Yasir set the ball on platter to Buanthanglun Samte, who after covering a few yards fired in a low grounder, 1-1.
After some midfield action Pune FC once again got into the offensive when Omega Vanlalhruaitlvanga got hold of the ball from Yasir and charged into the rival territory but was dangerously brought down by Sporting Clube’s Franzil Negredo inside the penalty area.
Referee without any hesitation awarded the Pune FC outfit a penalty. However, Samte’s strike from the penalty spot was kept away by the diving Sporting Clube keeper Sherwin Da Cunha.
Minutes before half-time keeper Sherwin once again displayed some brilliant skills under the horizontal bar to keep Ashique Kuruniyan’s shot at bay.
Crossing over, substitute Akeraj Martins came close to putting the Flaming Oranje into the lead but his header off Sarineo Fernandes’ pass was neatly collected by Pune FC keeper Anjuj Kumar. The keeper kept up his fine performance to thwart a long range strike from Daryl Costa.
Sporting Clube custodian too was at his best to frustrate the efforts of Omega Vanlalhruaitlvanga and Kuruniyan.
When it looked the match was heading for a draw, Pune FC showed they were not yet done and came with the match winning goal in injury minutes of the match through a powerful shot from outside the danger zone, 2-1.
The match still had some more drama to unfold when Pune FC received a penalty kick when Sporting Clube’s Shawn Noronha tackled Omega inside the penalty area. Omega who himself went to take the kick, shot wide. Pune FC’s Omega Vanlalhruaitlvanga received the Man-of-the-Match cash prize of
Rs 5,000 from Santosh Bandodkar, GFA’s executive committee member.
Margao reporter adds: In another semi-final, Dempo Sports Club thrashed Churchill Brothers 4-0 to move into the final at Rosary ground, Navelim, on Monday.
Just within 24 hours, Dempo SC juniors booked the final berth as on Sunday the seniors’ team made it to the I-League. So on Tuesday, it is to see what holds for the Golden Eagles in the final.
For Dempo SC, Kapil Hoble scored a brace while Veegan Ferrao and Jayson Lucas netted one each.
Pune Football Club and Dempo SC will battle for the title on Tuesday, at the Duler Stadium, Mapusa, at 7 p.m.
