Dominant Pune down Dempo 2-0

Agencies
PUNE: A dominant Pune FC rode on Sukhwinder Singh’s and James Moga’s goals to beat defending champions Dempo SC 2-0 and jump to the third spot in the I-League standings after their 22nd round match at Balewadi Sports Complex Stadium, here, Thursday.
Sukhwinder Singh’s rasping 35-yard drive that left everyone spellbound was the highlight of the match. He later set up Moga two minutes from half-time to ascertain Pune FC’s dominance on their home ground.
The win helped Pune FC add three full points to their tally that rose to 37 points from 20 matches, two ahead of Dempo and four points behind East Bengal. This was Pune FC’s second win over Dempo this season after beating them 5-1 in their away fixture last December.
Pune FC started on an attacking note and their fast chance came in the 17th minute when Karma Tsewang sent in a low ball from the left flank before Gurjinder went in, but his shot was cleared for a corner after a melee inside the box.
Five minutes later there was another close call when Sukhwinder found Boima Karpeh, who started in place of ‘rested’ Douhou Pierre, on the left. The Liberia-born Australian combined nicely with Khanthang Paite before laying the ball for Gurjinder, but the move was wasted.
Pune took the lead with a shot that left everyone in daze in the 30th minute. Sukhwinder took a crack from 35 yards and the ball zoomed low but just over the outstretched Dempo goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani.
Anas Edathodika and James Moga had chances in the 32nd and 26th minutes respectively, but Dempo staved off the danger, but only just.
Moga was at the helm with Sukhwinder doing the major work before sending the long ball for the striker, who gamely finished from the right after receiving a brilliant lofted through ball.
The second half saw Pune FC defending rather than attacking, but Dempo did nothing spectacular to make a match out of the Round 22 encounter.