Agencies
PUNE: Derrick Pereira’s side was the best-placed outfit at the start of the year, but over the next three rounds, their fate has spiraled down from being joint first with the league leaders Churchill Brothers, to the fourth and eight points apart.
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Pune take on Salgaocar in Round 19 I-Legaue football match, here.
This situation was never envisioned given the way Pune FC played this season, but some sheer bad luck and debatable referring decisions have put the Pune team back into the fighting ring. Only solace the Red Lizards have is that they have two matches in hand in comparison to the two teams above them and the one that is chasing them at the fifth spot.
South Sudanese striker James Moga has been taking too much responsibility upfront, but things aren’t working the way Pereira would like to. And then Karma Tsewang and Jeje Lalpekhlua have had their indifferent form off late.
“We need to get a good result at home and there is no two ways about it,” says Pereira reminding that Pune FC had beaten Salgaocar 2-0 in an away match last December.
Currently, Pune FC are on the fourth spot with 30 points while Salgaocar are at the other end of the spectrum, in the drop zone at the twelfth spot with 14 points.
It will be a challenging task for Pune FC as the Goan team has arrived here on the back of a loss, just as similar to the two early seasons, and so will be determined to push themselves away from the wrong end of the table.
“The boys are hungry to win and want to get back and want to forget the way we played in the second-half of the match against East Bengal,” says Pereira on the eve of the match that will be played under lights.
About Salgaocar having a new set of foreign players, Pereira said: “They are good attacking guys. Joshimar (Martins) is experienced and has played in India for several years. The others are new and look good. I’ve seen them play on artificial turf, but in Pune it’s a natural pitch and need to see how they do.”
Saying that Salgaocar is a good team, Pereira wants his players not to take the match lightly. “And going by the (league) standings we need to stay focused and get on with the job.”
Pune FC will have a changed squad since they lost to East Bengal. Khanthang Paite returns to the squad and so does Nikhil Kadam and Vellington Rocha.
“The youngsters need encouragement and a chance to prove themselves,” explains Pereira. As for Salgaocar, Rahul Kumar was red-carded in the last match and will sit out.
What could make Salgaocar tick is that they have beaten Mohun Bagan only 10 days ago but Pune are a different nut to crack.
In another match, Pailan face East Bengal in a Round 19 match at Kalyani. Arrows are currently placed eighth in the 14-team standings. They have won a commendable five matches and drawn another four in their 17 outings so far, which together keep Arrows’ performance on the positive balance.
Meanwhile, it is expected to be a high voltage game on Saturday when Shillong Lajong host United Sikkim FC in a Round 19 I-League football match, here.
Both teams will be are eager to earn full points and stay away from relegation zone.
At Pune, Air India will cross swords with in-form Prayag United Sports Club.
Coach Anthony Fernandes isn’t much worried given that the institutional side is set to be ‘kicked out’ of the premier domestic league at the end of the ongoing season. He can hardly do much to boost the morale of his players—professionals and foreigners among them are already scouting for options when the transfer window will open in May.
