Finally,a win for Pune FC

PFC thus moved up the league to 8 th place with seven points behind Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL),Bangalore who sport the same points but have a better goal difference. HAL are have a goal difference of nil (0),while PFC are (-1). Salgaocar remained in second spot with a 12 point tally.

Going into the game with Reisang Pemmi alongside Mandjou Keita upfront,PFC made their intentions clear of going for the kill. Adding teeth to their attacks was Sunil Kumar who did a good job on the right sending in crosses aplenty and kept the Goans on alert.

Sunil’s runs on two occasions earned corners,which went abegging. Against the run of play it was off a corner that PFC scored. Sunil right-footed kick swung to an unmarked Selwyn at the second post. The defender timing his run well did well to head it to the far post past Salgaocar ‘keeeper Karanjit Singh. Selwyn was later named Man Of The Match for his effort,which also meant it was PFC’s second in as many matches.

The goal was PFC’s fourth goal scored off a header and was also the first time that PFC had taken the lead in all their encounters.

Nearing half-time,Arata Izumi missed Sunil’s cross which denied PFC a double advantage at half time.

The first session also saw the exit of skipper Ajayan Nair,owing to injury from a hard tackle and was replaced by Azim Hassan. Changing ends,PFC changed from the 4-4-2 game they played to a 4-5-1 formation by bringing on Shanmugan Venkatesh (Pemmi) and Paresh Shivalkar (J Prasad). Prasad overall had done a good job on the left wing.The plan worked and PFC did well to defend their scoreline as Salgaocar attacked. Defender Lamine Tamba was timely in interceptions and at times ’keeper N Balaji kept the ball in control.

Venkatesh meanwhile drilled a volley goal-ward,but unfortunately the ball found Keita. At the other end,the PFC defence did well to keep the opponents at bay.

In the five minutes of added time,PFC had another chance to increase the tally. Keita in a one-on-one position with the keeper ahead,found his try hit a defenders leg and roll on to the ‘keeper.

The loss was Salgaocar’s second,while for PFC it meant keeping their slate clean against Salgaocar SC in the I-League. Last year PFC won 3-1 at Fatorda.