PUNE, Dec 21: There is no denying that Derrick Pereira and his boys have done the city proud by beating defending champion Dempo FC on rivals’ turf, but the real test awaits them now with last home match before the team heads for Eastern sojourn next week.
James Moga was the wrecker in chief as he pumped two goals on either side of the break, but the fact was that Pune FC showed true grit and played for a win right from the kick-off. For past few seasons, away matches had become an anathema, but not anymore.
Izumi Arata and skipper Douhou Pierre too played a vital role in Pune FC’s 5-1 win against Dempo, something that augurs well for the team as they host Prayag United SC in the Round XII match of the I-League Football championship at the Balewadi Stadium on Saturday.
Pune FC is currently at No 4 position in the league table with 20 points from 10 matches, while Prayag United is just a rung below at No 5 with 17 points, but has played one match more than Pune FC.
Given the form that Pune FC has shown in the past couple of weeks, and the fact that National team player Jeje Lalpekhlua is back in the scoring charts, gives Pune FC a leg up going into the penultimate match before the season takes the turn and enters the New Year.
When the two teams played last, in the Federation Cup match, the scores were even as they drew 1-1 this September, but that is no yardstick to measure what will happen here on the morrow.
Pune FC has good bench strength and considering that they are playing at home that too an evening start, it would be an interesting contest to watch.
In the I-League contests, Pune FC will go into the match knowing that they had beaten Prayag in their last outing, at this same ground. Nonetheless, Prayag leads head-to-head count 2-1 in four meetings with two wins and a draw.
In the last five matches Pune FC has won three and drawn two, and coach Pereira would hope the law of averages do not catch up with them just yet. In contrast, Prayag United has lost three matches, including two at home, before winning the last round match against East Bengal.
While Pereira is expected to field an unchanged side that won against Dempo, it is the midfield that he will have to tighten up, which mostly shows slackness on the home turf.
The two 2-2 draws, against United Sikkim FC and Mohun Bagan were reflection of that. Those were the matches that Pune FC should have won given the way strikers and defenders had built up the game. Loss of four crucial points has hurt Pune FC, something that will make a big difference when the season would near the end.
As for Prayag, Pune FC will have to be guarded given that Ranti Martins is a prolific scorer who lunges for every chance to put the ball through. Prayag has good defence in Gouramangi Singh, Deepak Mondal and Sukhen Dey and also Dhanachandra Singh.
Match time: 6.30 pm.
James Moga was the wrecker in chief as he pumped two goals on either side of the break, but the fact was that Pune FC showed true grit and played for a win right from the kick-off. For past few seasons, away matches had become an anathema, but not anymore.
Izumi Arata and skipper Douhou Pierre too played a vital role in Pune FC’s 5-1 win against Dempo, something that augurs well for the team as they host Prayag United SC in the Round XII match of the I-League Football championship at the Balewadi Stadium on Saturday.
Pune FC is currently at No 4 position in the league table with 20 points from 10 matches, while Prayag United is just a rung below at No 5 with 17 points, but has played one match more than Pune FC.
Given the form that Pune FC has shown in the past couple of weeks, and the fact that National team player Jeje Lalpekhlua is back in the scoring charts, gives Pune FC a leg up going into the penultimate match before the season takes the turn and enters the New Year.
When the two teams played last, in the Federation Cup match, the scores were even as they drew 1-1 this September, but that is no yardstick to measure what will happen here on the morrow.
Pune FC has good bench strength and considering that they are playing at home that too an evening start, it would be an interesting contest to watch.
In the I-League contests, Pune FC will go into the match knowing that they had beaten Prayag in their last outing, at this same ground. Nonetheless, Prayag leads head-to-head count 2-1 in four meetings with two wins and a draw.
In the last five matches Pune FC has won three and drawn two, and coach Pereira would hope the law of averages do not catch up with them just yet. In contrast, Prayag United has lost three matches, including two at home, before winning the last round match against East Bengal.
While Pereira is expected to field an unchanged side that won against Dempo, it is the midfield that he will have to tighten up, which mostly shows slackness on the home turf.
The two 2-2 draws, against United Sikkim FC and Mohun Bagan were reflection of that. Those were the matches that Pune FC should have won given the way strikers and defenders had built up the game. Loss of four crucial points has hurt Pune FC, something that will make a big difference when the season would near the end.
As for Prayag, Pune FC will have to be guarded given that Ranti Martins is a prolific scorer who lunges for every chance to put the ball through. Prayag has good defence in Gouramangi Singh, Deepak Mondal and Sukhen Dey and also Dhanachandra Singh.
Match time: 6.30 pm.
0 comments