Foreigners strike, Indians shine in Pune’s win Without home comforts, Mumbai FC hold Clube
KOLKATA: The Kolkata chapter of I-league 7 started 25 minutes behind schedule because one of the two ambulances went missing.
Football came to the rescue of a competition that seemed to be in the news for only the wrong reasons, as Pune FC brought Mohammedan Sporting down to earth after a jittery start. Fullback Gurjinder Kumar, midfielders Nikhil Kadam, Mumtaz Akhtar and Daanapal Ganesh, however, showed that the Pune club is indeed keen on grooming young talent.
Pune FC striker Raul Fabiani though spoilt a dream debut with a red card. “I’ll give him a kiss on the cheek and a kick on the back,” said Pune FC coach Mike Snoei.
Forty-eight hours after the Durand Cup triumph, Mohammedan Sporting were made to feel a lack of depth in the squad that could hurt them.
“We don’t have anyone to drive the team forward if Penn (Orji) isn’t available,” said coach Abdul Aziz Moshood. Orji, rested for the Durand Cup final due to an ankle injury, lasted 35 minutes.
That Josimar Martins could still have given the team victory is testimony to the work that needs to be done by Pune FC’S backline. “Had Josimar been a little sharper in front of goal, we could have let in more,” said Snoei.
Martins sparked early celebrations among the 10,000-odd fans staying on-side to meet Gagandeep Singh’s lob. Ajay Singh had broken the off-side trap earlier and Singh and Martins combined in ing a dummy to split open Pune FC’S defence. The venue had changed but for Mohammedan Sporting, the enjoyment hadn’t.
It lasted all of 16 minutes though. Fabiani stabbed home a nice build-up initiated by James Meyer on the right and after Kadam’s right-footer smashed into the upright.
If the first half ended on a somewhat even note, Pune FC were more organised in the second even after the 76th minute when Fabiani got his second booking. Barring the tendency of Izumi Arata to play long backpasses, one of which Martins lobbed over in the 72nd, that is. Instead of 2-2, it was 3-1 three minutes later when Justin Stephen scored. Having seen a yellow for a handball, the 6’6 striker lifted his shirt and was booked again.
Pune FC’S second goal too came through the left side of Mohammedan Sporting’s defence, Fabiani pulling it back for James Meyer to make the most of Dhanarajan R being out of position.
Martins hit the horizontal in the third minute of stoppage time. It wasn’t his afternoon but with Tolgay Ozbey out of the game for most of the time he couldn’t be faulted for not trying.
“It’s not as bad as it seems. We did what we had to do but couldn’t take our chances. It’s okay, this is a long league and we’ve just played four games before this ” MUMBAI: Mumbai FC opened their I-league account on Saturday with a 1-1 draw against Sporting Clube de Goa at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune. With every new season, teams would always hope for a positive spark that would give the side the impetus for the season.
And for the Mumbai side, the biggest boost would have been coming back to the Cooperage ground. Unfortunately, the side had to kick off their campaign again away from home. The side has had to play in Pune since 2011 after renovation began at the south Mumbai stadium.
“It was good game for us. Sporting are a very strong side and we did not have much practice because of the rain,” said Mumbai FC manager Henry Picardo.
John Coutinho gave the Mumbai side the lead in the first half before Sporting’s Ogba Kalu Nnanna converted a penalty to equalize in the 77th minute.
HOMEWARDS BOUND Coach Picardo said he hoped the time to return home will not be far away.
“We are waiting to get back to Cooperage. It will be a big boost for the club and the players especially. Only when we move we connect with the fans and do our planned out to renew our bond with the city,” added Picardo.
But things may soon change with work on the Cooperage ground headed for completion. “We are in the process of getting clearances. The process will get done by the month end after that we will work on erecting the stands,” said Henry Menezes, CEO, Western India Football Association, which manages the ground.
“The stands will take 30-35 days to get erected. The whole idea was done to improve the ground, it is unfortunate that we have had to clear so many hurdles. We will support Mumbai FC in every aspect possible ” added
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