Federation Cup: Pune FC fight back to play a 1-1 draw with Mohun Bagan

Pune FC staged a spirited second half performance in a come-from-behind 1-1 draw with Mohun Bagan AC in a Federation Cup Group-B second round encounter at the Tilak Maidan in Vasco on Thursday.

In a game of two halves, it was Mohun Bagan who took the lead in the 26th minute through Cameroonian striker Pierre Boya (26^th minute) before a penalty conversion from Japanese playmaker Ryuji Sueoka (66^th) levelled scores for Pune FC.

The result was the first draw played by Pune FC this season in twelve games in three competitions. Moreover, the point earned also meant that Pune FC (4 pts) regained their top spot going ahead of Bengaluru FC (4 pts) on goal difference in Group-B.

Going into the game, Coach Karim Bencherifa made two changes in the starting lineup from the previous game bringing in defender Raju Yumnam and medio Lal Ramluaha.

Pune FC began the game confidently creating a few half chances early on. However, it was Bagan who took the early initiative and had a handful of close attempts on goal mainly through winger Sony Norde and striker Balwant Singh.

After soaking pressure in the opening quarter, Pune FC finally went close in the 22^nd minute. Medio Dhanpal Ganesh won possession in the midfield before passing to Eric Brown who found Arata Izumi on the left. The skipper sent left back Raju Yumnam clear on the left but his cross was finally blocked.

At the other end, Bagan broke the deadlock through striker Boya in the 26^th minute. Having earned a corner on the left flank, Norde sent in a cross which came back to him after a clearance. On the second attempt, Norde’s cross found Pierre Boya unmarked in the face of the goal and he made no mistake in heading home to give Bagan the lead.

Pune FC came out of their shell and began to attack. Ganesh, once again, dispossessed an opponent and let fly from distance but went wide.

Meanwhile, Bagan continued to attack and went extremely close couple of times past the half hour mark. First Balwant chested down Norde’s cross in from the left to set up Boya for a volley which was brilliantly saved by Pune FC custodian Amrinder Singh.

A minute later, it was Balwant who had the opportunity on Pritam Kotal’s cross in from the right, but he fired his attempt over.

Pune FC kept on pushing ahead but poor finishing in the final third let them down as the half ended with Bagan having the narrow lead.

Coach Bencherifa brought in striker Thongkhosiem Haokip in place of winger Anthony D’Souza at the start of the second half to add more fire power up front.

The move worked for Pune FC as they began to dominate proceedings with attacks on rival goals increasing in frequency.

Six minutes after restart, Pune FC went close through a great combination move outside the Bagan box. Haokip flicked on a long ball for Sueoka who found Eric clear on the right who cut past his marker and drilled a low effort wide.

Minutes later, it was defender Mathew Gonsalves who went close. After keeper Shilton Paul punched out Eric’s corner kick from the right, the second ball fell for Mathew whose perfect volley was tipped over by Shilton.

Pune FC kept the pressure on and were finally rewarded in the 65^th minute when defender Shouvik Ghosh handled Eric’s cross inside the box and the referee awarded a penalty. Sueoka stepped up and fired a powerful shot past the keeper to level scores.

Moments later, Pune FC almost got a second. Haokip timed his run well to meet Sueoka’s cross from the left but his effort was saved by the keeper before the ball came off the post. The stray ball fell for Arata whose attempt ended in the sidenetting.

Having restricted Bagan to few attacks, Pune FC kept on pushing ahead and went close once again in the 78^th minute. Haokip did well to run solo on a counter attack down the right before finding Arata on the edge of the box on the left. The medio controlled, turned and took a snapshot which went agonisingly over.

Into the final five minutes, Haokip once again went close. This time his attempt on the run after Arata set him up on the edge of the box went wide. Moments later, the youngster timed his run well to control Mathew’s floated cross from the right, but his lobbed effort went just over the horizontal.

Both sides created a couple of chances in the dying minutes of the game before it ended 1-1.

Hero of the Match: Luciano Sabrosa (Pune FC)