ISL playoff: Bengaluru face Pune

PUNE: FC Pune City host Bengaluru FC on Wednesday in the first playoff fixture of the Indian Super League with the winner likely to take a big step towards making their maiden final.

Pune coach Ranko Popovic though played down the significance of the first-leg semifinal against table toppers Bengaluru in determining a finalist. “We have two games to play and so nothing is going to be decided tomorrow. We have to play smart in both games. It has to be a balanced approach like we have had all through the season,” he said.

Under the Serb, Pune have expressed themselves like never before, showing great fluidity in the final third. They thrashed NorthEast United FC 5-0 and ATK 4-1 and 3-0. Popovic was hopeful of a performance of such calibre. “The best thing would be a repeat of one of our best games this season... Now, we cannot try to completely change our style.In the league phase, you still had a chance to make up. So our mentality changes a little.”

Pune’s Uruguayan forward Emiliano Alfaro, suspended in the 2-2 draw against Delhi Dyna- mos, will return. But the high-flying Bengaluru will look to win the League on debut like they did in the I-League in 2014.

Bengaluru have lost just twice away this term. They finished the league phase with 40 points – eight ahead of second played Chennaiyin FC. The Blues beat Pune 3-1 away, but the return leg ended 1-1.

AWAY-GOAL RULE

The ‘away goal’ rule will apply in the semi-finals, ISL said. It will apply after normal time in the second leg. If the aggregate goal difference is zero, the team that scored more away goals will be declared winner.