Pune FC down AIFF Regional Academy 2-1

Pune, Feb 28 (IANS) Pune FC ended their home campaign with a thrilling 2-1 win over AIFF Regional Academy, Navi Mumbai, in an Under-19 I-League Round 9 match at the Pune FC Training Pitches in Mamurdi Friday.

Their fourth win in the Maharashtra Zone was powered by a brace from left-back Subhasish Bose (33rd and 79th minutes) who scored on either side of a Milan Basumatary strike in the 64th minute.

The win took Pune FC’s tally to 14 points from seven games as they stay second in the table and also ended the AIFF Academy’s seven match winning run.

The hosts dominated proceedings in the first half and went close two minutes past the half hour mark. After combining with Sanchayan Samadder on the right, Altamash Sayed sent in a low cross for Subhasish on the left. The left-back’s attempt on the slide was however blocked by a defender.

Three minutes later, Pune FC finally took the lead. Controlling a short corner, medio C. Kiran set on a run down the left before crossing it in for the keeper to parry away. The rebound fell for Subhasish who made no mistake in controlling and volleying it home from close.

Pune FC took their one-goal into the breather.

The second half was a more open affair as both sides kept on pushing looking for a goal. Four minutes past the hour mark, the visitors finally pulled level. A defensive error on the left saw a cut back being finished by Milan from the edge of the box leaving custodian Tanmay Bhattacharjee no chance.

Six minutes later, AIFF Academy almost took the lead only for Moinuddin Khan’s attempt to come off the crossbar.

However, it was Pune FC who took the lead once again. After continuously attacking the visitors’ goal, an inch perfect cross in from the right by winger R. Manimaran was headed in by Subhasish from the edge of the box.