PUNE: Pune FC went on top of the I-League as they edged the state derby encounter with Mumbai FC courtesy a 3-2 scoreline. In a dramatic and ferocious encounter, early goals from Luciano Sabrosa and Josimar for their respective sides were followed by Darko Nikac giving the hosts the lead. In the closing stages Ryuji Suoeka added to the Red Lizards’ tally to make it 3-1, only for Mohammed Rafi to pull one back and ensure the game had a nervous finish for Karim Bencherifa’s men. Khalid Jamil’s men couldn’t conjure up the leveller as they stayed rooted to the bottom of the I-League pile.
Tipped as the ‘Maha Derby’, both sides entered this one with contrasting ambitions. Karim Bencherifa keeping faith in the lineup that mauled Shillong Lajong 5-2 last time out while Khalid Jamil decided to make five changes to his side which lost out 1-0 to Lajong.
It didn’t take Pune long to light up the tie in a positive sense with Luciano Sabrosa giving the hosts the lead in the seventh minute from a well-taken low corner.
Mumbai didn’t have to wait too long as Josimar drew level in the 11th minute.
Right on the half-hour mark though the Red Lizards regained the lead. The lively Edgar Marcelino found Pune’s Croatian striker Darko Nikac with a deep corner, whose relatively weak header went through the Mumbai ranks and past Nidhinlal in goal.
With the hour mark approaching, veteran Climax Lawrence had to be stretchered off due to injury. Minutes later, Ashutosh’s horrendous tackle had Haokip flying, worthy of the yellow card he received.
a low fizzing shot go just wide of Amrindar’s far post. This was followed by a spell of wastefulness from Pune. Ryuji Sueoka’s dinked cross in the 67th minute went just over Nikac’s head followed by Thongkosiem Haokip being thwarted shortly after.
On 79 minutes Edgar Marcelino almost put the game to bed with a piledriver that brought the best out of Nidhinlal from 30 yards out. The keeper making the save spectacularly with one hand.
With less than ten minutes to play, Cletus Paul should’ve done much better from Taisuke Matsugae’s free-kick to the far post. The ball finding him at the edge of the box but his tame effort went just wide.
Then with just over five minutes to go, Japanese national Ryuji Sueoka added to Pune’s lead. With Mumbai looking to draw level, Pune broke clear with substitute Nikhil Kadam laying it up for Sueoka, who shot with his favored left foot, finding the back of the net following a deflection off Stephan.
Just as one thought Mumbai had no way back, Mohammed Rafi struck for the visitors with a minute of normal time to go. The striker, who had come on minutes before for Cletus Paul, headed home from close range from a corner.
Mumbai then threw the kitchen sink at Pune but they were exremely susceptible on the counter as a result. Nidhinlal proved to be the hero for Mumbai as he saved Nikac’s shot from outside the box well from a breakaway, only to see his parry land in Marcelino’s path, who should’ve done better with the rebound. His shot going straight at the superb Nidhinlal.
In the end, Karim Bencherifa’s men held on well to record all three points and go top of the I-League table.
