I-League: Pune FC suffer narrow 0-1 defeat to Mohun Bagan

Pune FC put on a spirited show but went down fighting 0-1 to Mohun Bagan AC in an I-League Round-5 encounter at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday.

Despite dominating majority of the second half, a 77^th minute goal from Pritam Kotal proved to be the difference between the two sides as Pune FC suffered their first defeat of the season.

While Pune FC’s unbeaten start to the campaign was halted, they continue to lead the standings with 10 points while Bagan moved up to fourth place in the table with 7 points at the end of Round-5.

Going into the game, Pune FC Coach Karim Bencherifa fielded the same Starting XI from the previous game with the only addition to the matchday squad, Anthony D’Souza, starting on the bench.

In a game of equal exchanges, both sides came out attacking from the very beginning creating a couple of half chances in the opening five minutes.

Having settled down, Pune FC were the first to go close. Striker Darko Nikac combined well with Ryuji Sueoka on the left and created space for the Japanese playmaker. The striker however could not find the final pass as the Bagan defense held firm.

At the other end, the hosts went close through Katsumi Yusa but his dangerous long range attempt was covered well by custodian Amrinder Singh in the 13^th minute.

The game thereafter turned into a physical battle with challenges flying in from both sides as play was being halted on several occasions.

Into the final quarter, Pune FC went close on multiple occasions. First defender Yumnam Raju found striker Thongkhosiem Haokip clear in the box with a cross from the left. Haokip controlled the ball well but his cutback was cleared. Moments later, it was Darko who connected a header from Edgar Marcelino’s cross in from the right but the attempt went wide.

Both sides went into the breather tied at 0-0.

Coach Bencherifa the brought in winger Anthony D'Souza in place of Haokip at the start of the second half to add some fresh legs. 

The second period was a similar story as Pune FC dominated majority of the proceedings in the opening quarter going close on a couple of occasions.

Having consistently pushed forward, Pune FC created a close chance in the 63rd minute. Combining on the left flank with Raju Yumnam, Sueoka got into the clear and sent in a low cross for Darko inside the box. The Montenegrin striker did well to control but couldn’t take a clean shot from close range.

Eight minutes later, the striker was once again in action when he managed to connect Raju's cross in from the left but went wide with his header.

While Pune FC continued to push up, it was Bagan who took the lead at the other end against the run of play in the 77^th minute.

Off  a throw in conceded by Raju on the right, Pritam found substitute Balwant Singh who did well to hold off Raju and relay the pass back to Pritam between the wrong-footed Raju and Dhanpal Ganesh. The Pune FC duo who tried to close in instead opened up the space for Bagan's attack.

The pacy Balwant intelligently moved past Zohmingliana Ralte and found Jeje Lalpekhlua with his outstep, who in turn played on to Sony Norde on the overlap down the left. Balwant's initial pass had consumed Arata Izumi and Matthew Gonsalves leaving the Haitian clear who sent in a measured chip, ahead of Lunciano who tried to cut down the angle.

The chip floated past Ralte and Balwant at the first post who closed in. Meanwhile, Raju failed to track the lurking Pritam whose angular header went past Amrinder Singh at the first post to give Bagan the lead.    

Despite going a goal down, Pune FC kept on pushing forward in search of the equalizer. However, the home side slowed down the game and defended deep.

Nonetheless, Pune FC attacked the rival goal persistently. In the 87th minute, Pune FC almost pulled level when Darko managed to connect Sueoka's neat cross in from the right. However, the effort on the header sailed just over the horizontal.

Into the final minutes of the game, Pune FC pushed hard for the equaliser but Bagan held on for the narrow win.