sports round-up: PFC bows out

PFC bowed out of the Durand Cup after a 1-1 draw with Sesa Goa in their final group match at the Ambedkar Stadium,New Delhi. Needing a win to progress into the semifinals,the result forced Pune FC to finish second in Group-II with two points allowing Sesa FA (4 points) to move into the semifinals. Pune were desperately close to going through,taking the lead two minutes into injury time when striker Jeje Lalpekhlua sneaked the ball home,but Sesa FA levelled three minutes later through Chukwudi Chukwuma. Throughout the match,Pune created chances,with Jeje,Subash Singh and winger Karma Tsewang all coming close in the early exchanges. Izumi Arata had the best chance of the half,but his angled effort from eight yards out went straight to the keeper. Left back Gurjinder Kumar then weaved past three defenders and released Jeje,only for the striker to shoot weakly. Minutes into the second half,Karma blasted a left-footer over the crossbar. At the other end,Chukwuma looked threatening but the Pune defence held firm. PFC made two substitutions bringing in Nikhil Kadam for Subash and pushed Arata up,before Douhou Pierre replaced Shanmugam Venkatesh. The new legs made a difference,with Douhou getting ambitious with an effort from 22 yards out. Jeje before that attempted to connect a half volley but missed. With eight minutes of injury time added,PFC finally opened its score. From the right,a determined Douhou fought his way into the box and rolled the ball across the mouth of the goal for Jeje to connect at the far post. But just three minutes later,Sesa scored. Gurjinder failed to clear a corner,and squandered possession to Sesa. A cross to the far end caught the entire defense napping leaving Chukwuma free to head across.

Wins for Wanowrie,Dastur Mayor & Sukhai

Wanowrie FC,Dastur Mayor (DMR) Football Club and Sukhai FC moved into the second round of the PDFA President Cup knockout football tournament after first round wins at the PDFA Dobarwadi Grounds on Tuesday. Goals from Adnan Shaikh and Tousif Shaikh gave Dastur Mayor a 2-0 win over Strong Ball FC,while Wanowrie prevailed over Blue Stag in a tie-breaker,shading the shootout 5-4 after the game had ended one-all.