MARGAO, DEC 29
Pune Football Club came good to register their maiden win over Salgaocar Sports Club 1-0 in a sixth round match of I-League at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Wednesday.
Man-of-the-match Selwyn Fernandes scored the all-important goal in the 32nd minute.
The win provided a welcome relief for the Pune challengers as they recorded their first win after a poor run in the league.
Pune showed better application and played according to plan to take the match away from their rivals. Right wing half Sunil Kumar put up a stellar performance. He made a number of dashing runs into the rival territory and was also instrumental in providing measured passes to his teammates to keep the Salgaocar defence on their toes.
Pune played confidently and relied on counter-attacks to unsettle the rival defence.
At the other hand, Salgaocar’s two pronged attackers that included Ghanaian Yakubu Yusif and Japanese import Ryuji Sueoka were far from their usual self but Pune’s defenders ended up giving more attention to the duo than they both deserved.
Pune created enough of openings with the help of Arata Izumi and Krishnan Nair Ajayan, only to fall short in front of the goal.
Salgaocar’s citadel did have a narrow escape in the 4th minute but striker Keita fumbled to connect his header after hardworking Sunil Kumar sent a chip from the right flank. Thereafter, again Pune came close in surging ahead but Irungbam Meitei thwarted Sunil Kumar’s attempt with neat tackles after the his colleague lost possession.
Salgaocar tried their best to break the deadlock in the 28th minute when Anthony Barbosa floated the ball inside the rival penalty box but striker Yakubu Yuisf made a valiant attempt only to see his snap header miss the mark narrowly.
Later midfielder Gilbert Oliveira’s feeble try went straight into the safe hands of Pune custodian Balaji Narasimhan.
Salgaocar were shocked in the 32nd minute when goalkeeper Karanjit Singh came out of his position and lost judgement, allowing defender Selwyn Fernandes to head home off a flag kick taken by Sunil Kumar.
At the stroke of the lemon break, Pune had a narrow escape when Selwyn Fernandes tried a reverse kick but lost concentration and a lurking Yakubu Yusif made a mess of it.
If Pune looked a better side in the first session, it was Salgoacar who took the charge after the lemon break. But Pune’s defence stood tall with stopper back Selwyn Fernandes and Caitano Costa displaying their best to keep Salgaocar’s strikers at bay.
Salgaocar came near to equalising in the 55th minute when Anthony Barbosa outpaced the rival defender and essayed a fine pass inside the rival penalty area but midfielder Gilbert Oliveira’s try was parried away by the Pune custodian. A couple of minutes later, striker Keita Mandjou blew away an easy chance shooting over from five yards off a cross from Paresh Shivalkar.
Again Keita Mandjou was the worst culprit as he spurned a good chance with only the rival keeper to beat as he shot wide off S Venkatesh’s cross from the right flank.
Salgaocar tried their best to force their way back but all their efforts proved futile.
With this win, Pune collected seven points from six outings while Salgaocar SC suffered their second defeat and have 12 points from six outings.
