Under-19 I-League: Pune FC go down fighting 1-3 to DSK Shivajians!
Pune FC were done in by defensive errors and went down fighting 1-3 to DSK Shivajians FC in an Under-19 I-League Maharashtra Zone Round 2 encounter at the Pune FC Training Pitches in Mamurdi on Friday.
The loss was Pune FC's first in two games, the first at home, and their tally remains at three points as they stay second behind leaders DSK Shivajians (6 pts) after two rounds.
Shivajians took the lead through striker Lallianzuala in the 21st minute, before striker Farukh Choudhary pulled Pune FC level in the 38th minute. Minutes later, Lallianzuala (44th) scored once again to give Shivajians the lead before Lalnunsiama (69th) completed the scoring. Having created a host of chances of chances throughout the game, Pune FC were let down once again by failure to convert chances in the final third.
Pune FC began the game on the offensive and created a couple of chances in the opening quarter. However, attempts from winger Chesterpaul Lyngdoh and Sebastian Thangmuansang went wide. In the 17th minute, Pune FC almost took the lead. Wing-back Dimple Bhagat controlled a stray ball on the left and sent in a first-time low cross inside the box. However, despite getting into the box in time, Sebastian and Farukh miscued their attempt for a sure shot goal.
Minutes later, Pune FC once again went agonisingly close. This time, Dimple won possession down the middle and fired a shot from 30-yards out which went inches over the crossbar. At the other end, a goalkeeping error gave Shivajians the lead against the run of play. While Pune FC were dominating the battle, a loose shot from Lallianzuala sneaked past keeper Iprotip Das’ hands and ended up in the goal.
Having conceded, Pune FC began to push further up and went close through Sanchayan Samadder and Sebastian. While Sanchayan’s effort was saved by the keeper, Sebastian’s header from inside the box on Dimple’s cross lacked power.
Pune FC’s persistence paid off as they finally pulled level in the 38th minute. Chesterpaul set free on the right and squared the ball to Sebastian on the edge of the box. The striker laid off for Sannik Murmu who played a through ball to Farukh who equalised for Pune FC with a neat finish from inside the box. Pune FC’s excitement was short-lived as another goalkeeping gaffe gave Shivajians the lead. Iprotip failed to track Lallianzuala’s attempt as the youngster completed his brace giving the opponents a 2-1 lead going into the breather.
Pune FC came all-out attack in the second half to find the equaliser. Seven minutes in a long-range attempt from the left by Farukh went wide at the far post. Moments later, Chesterpaul won the ball inside the box on defender Asheer Akhtar’s cross but his attempt from close was saved by the keeper. Meanwhile, Shivajians opted to defend deep and kept on thwarting all Pune FC forays inside their box while going ahead on the occasional counter.
As Pune FC kept on pushing ahead, another defensive error saw Shivajians increase their lead. On a corner kick from the left, an unmarked Lalnunsiama controlled and finished from the far post. Pune FC kept on pushing ahead in search of a goal in the final quarter, but once again it was poor finishing in the final third that let them down as the game finished 1-3.