JOIN USFC Pune City continued with their resurgence as they produced a spirited display to register a 2-0 win over FC Goa in a Hero Indian Super League clash at the Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium, here on Tuesday.
A terrific strike from Marcelinho in the 74th minute and a late penalty from Marko Stankovic (90+4’) separated the two sides as Pune kept consecutive clean sheets.
With only one point from three previous games, FC Goa’s struggles after the international break in November continued and they find themselves in the fourth spot with 17 points. Pune, meanwhile, have climbed to the seventh spot with their second consecutive win, and more importantly, avenged their 2-4 hammering in Goa when interim coach Pradyum Reddy had just taken charge.
Goa dominated possession in the early stages of the game as Pune willingly dropped deep and set themselves up for quick counters. Hugo Boumous initiated a good move in the 12th minute as he picked out Seriton Fernandes’ run on the right flank. The full-back returned the favour with a cross into the centre but Boumous, who got at the end of it, sent his effort wide.
Pune had an excellent chance to take the lead in the 17th minute when Iain Hume’s long diagonal for Marcelinho caught Goa’s defence off-guard. Seriton tracked back and nicked the ball off the Brazilian with a last-ditch tackle.
With the match turning out to be an end-to-end affair, Goa threatened again in the 22nd minute. Edu Bedia’s lob allowed Brandon Fernandes to dribble into the box and force a good save from Kamaljit Singh.
Brazilian Marcelinho worked his magic to give Pune the lead in the 74th minute. Despite Goa pouring forward in attack, Pune held them off well and won a penalty late on when Stankovic was held by Mohammed Ali. The midfielder stepped up and converted to seal a hard-fought victory for Pune City.