Pune in hunt for playoffs after draw with Bengaluru
BANGALORE: FC Pune City kept their play-offs hopes alive with a 1-1 draw against Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League here on Friday.
Pune Coach Ranko Popovic would be happy with result as his team managed to remain second on the points table with 29 points, having scored 28 goals in 16 matches.
Bengaluru, who have already qualified for the play-offs, are still table toppers with 34 points after finding the net on 31 occasions in 16 matches.
Pune got the first goal of the match in 22nd minute and Bengaluru in 76th minute. The visitors equalized their first goal through Sarthak Goluli, giving coach Popovic something thing to smile about.
BLASTERS EYE WIN :
GUWAHATI Kerala Blasters will aim for nothing less than full points against NorthEast United FC during their ISL encounter on Saturday. Blasters coach David James is up against Avram Grant, who coached him during his stint at Portsmouth, back in 2010 but pleasantries will only be exchanged till the time of kick-off. Kerala Blasters have a fighting chance of qualifying for the semifinals of the ISL with 21 points from 15 matches. They must win all three remaining matches to have a chance of qualifying and may still not make it.
ARROWS HOLD AIZAWL
MARGAO:Indian Arrows staged yet another stupendous comeback as they held 10-man Aizawl FC to a 2-2 draw in their I-League encounter on Friday. Masih Saighani gave Aizawl the lead in the 40th minute while Edmund Lalrindika made it all square three minutes into the second half. Aizawl took the lead once again as Dodoz struck in the 54th minute before an Arrows comeback saw Amarjit Singh converting from the penalty spot in the 89th minute.
TOUGH FOR CHENNAI
COIMBATORE: Chennai City FC will have an uphill task of dislodging Churchill Brothers in their desperate bid to get out of the relegation zone when the two teams square off in an I-League encounter.
With Gokulam Kerala and Indian Arrows provided immunity from relegation in their debut season, current wooden spooners Chennai, languishing at the bottom with 13 points from 15 matches, have a realistic chance of demotion.
EB FACE GOKULAM TEST :
KOZHIKODE Title aspirants East Bengal will be aiming to ward off a stiff challenge from debutants Gokulam Kerala in an important away encounter of the I-League, here on Saturday. Currently placed third in the league table with 26 points from 14 matches, East Bengal are likely to face a tricky test at their backyard.