Pune, May 10: Churchill Brothers may have already partied after winning the I-League title early this week, but there still remains a fight for the second place between Pune FC and East Bengal with the contest going down to the wire in the season-ending matches.
Pune FC is on 49 points and a win against Pailan Arrows on Saturday will ensure their No 2 position for the 2012-13 season, but a different result will leave their fate in the hands of East Bengal, who meet Shillong Lajong FC on Sunday.
East Bengal, on 47 points, could upset Pune FC’s hopes should the Red Lizards fail to take full points from the AIFF developmental squad.
But given the way Pune FC has performed in the last four league matches, the Derrick Pereira’s side looks destined to grab the second position, which will be a milestone for the club that is playing in their only fourth season in the elite Indian football league.
Pune FC is coming into this match on the back of four straight wins, including one against Mohun Bagan, two against Air India and one over the ONGC FC. Their loss to Churchill Brothers in the Round 21 match in Goa will rankle Red Lizards for a long time as the way things panned out since then they would have surely been laying their hands of the brand new glittering I-League Trophy.
Again, history is with Pune FC. The Red Lizards haven’t lost to Pailan Arrows in their past five meetings, winning thrice and drawing twice giving the home team a clear edge over their rivals.
Arrows under Arthur Papas will look to redeem themselves against a team that needs an outright win to seal No 2 position.
Pune FC is on 49 points and a win against Pailan Arrows on Saturday will ensure their No 2 position for the 2012-13 season, but a different result will leave their fate in the hands of East Bengal, who meet Shillong Lajong FC on Sunday.
East Bengal, on 47 points, could upset Pune FC’s hopes should the Red Lizards fail to take full points from the AIFF developmental squad.
But given the way Pune FC has performed in the last four league matches, the Derrick Pereira’s side looks destined to grab the second position, which will be a milestone for the club that is playing in their only fourth season in the elite Indian football league.
Pune FC is coming into this match on the back of four straight wins, including one against Mohun Bagan, two against Air India and one over the ONGC FC. Their loss to Churchill Brothers in the Round 21 match in Goa will rankle Red Lizards for a long time as the way things panned out since then they would have surely been laying their hands of the brand new glittering I-League Trophy.
Again, history is with Pune FC. The Red Lizards haven’t lost to Pailan Arrows in their past five meetings, winning thrice and drawing twice giving the home team a clear edge over their rivals.
Arrows under Arthur Papas will look to redeem themselves against a team that needs an outright win to seal No 2 position.
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