Pune FC held to a 1-1 draw by Eagles FC

Pune FC ended with a result they least expected by playing out a 1-1 draw with home side Eagles FC in their Federation Cup opener.

Striker Riga Mustapha (59th minute) gave Pune FC the lead before striker Koko Sakibo (78th) equalised for Eagles.

With a point each, Pune FC and Eagles FC stay second in the group behind Churchill Brothers SC (3 points).

Pune FC Coach Mike Snoei handed new signing Zeeshan Rahman a debut which led to regular left-back Gurjinder Kumar moving up and partnering Arata Izumi in the midfield.

The initial stages had Pune FC hold off the spirited hosts in a mid-field battle before creating their first chance inside 10 minutes. Winger James Meyer gaining control in the midfield, created space and ambitiously let fly from 35-yards only to see it go over.

At the other end, the hosts pushed hard to keep Pune FC defenders on their toes. During this period of constant probing, Pune FC survived. Failing to clear the ball on the edge of the box, the defenders had ‘keeper Amrinder Singh rush and effect a timely block to a dangerous through ball.

Pune FC’s calculative build ups created yet another ambitious attempt on goal. Playmaker Douhou Pierre gaining possession from Arata Izumi on the half line set off on a counter down the right flank before cutting back to Meyer. The Australian controlled, pushed ahead, but his low grounder lacked punch and was easily saved by rival custodian Jagroop Singh.

Both sides thereafter failed to create any close chance and went into the break tied at goalless.

At the start of the second half, Snoei handed another new signing, winger Gabriel Fernandes a debut, bringing him in place of Arata who walked out after the first half with a limp. The move saw Meyer drop back and the new signing take his place on the right wing.

Pune FC began the second half on the offensive and started penetrating the home-side’s defense. Four minutes on, Riga released well to put winger Anthony D’Souza clear on the left just outside the box. The Goan cut in, passed a defender on the edge of the box, before releasing a right-footer that sailed over.

Eight minutes later, Douhou send Anthony clear, but the winger’s low cross into the box was cleared for a corner.

Playing a short past off the resulting corner on the left, defender Calum Angus sent in a cross to the far post. Skipper Anas Edathodika timed his run to perfection, but his header was well covered by Jagroop at the first post.

Nearing the hour and after continuously attacking the rivals goal, Pune FC fired the first salvo. Douhou brilliantly found an overlapping Othallo Tabia clear on the right flank. Moving up, Othallo from deep, supplied a perfect cross into the box. Keeper Jagroop, who had the cross covered, messed up his collection allowing a lurking Riga capatalise on the opportunity and bury the ball at the back of the net from close.

Five minutes later at the other end, Pune FC survived. With James Meyer conceding a free-kick, which led to an animated gesture, on the top of the box on the left. It was left to Amrinder to block Felix Chidi’s effort after Koko did the dummy run over .

Midway through the half, Pune FC once again went close. Controlling Othallo’s floated cross in from the left, Anthony dribbled past a few defenders. However, his low shot from inside the box was blocked by defense.

Into the final quarter, Eagles equalised after the Pune FC defense failed to clear the ball. Striker Koko bulldozed past a host of defenders, took a stiff crack which skipper Anas Edathodika blocked, but  did well to control and finish his second attempt.

In the final ten minutes, Pune FC tried to penetrate into the Eagles box and even conceded a last minute corner-kick to hold out and split points.