Pune City go top with help from North East Utd

FC Pune City )Express Photo by Partha Paul)

Synopsis: Pune City FC beat Northeast United 1-0 at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune, giving them two wins in as many games. A scrappy encounter between the two was eventually decided by an own goal, propelling the Pune side to the top of the table.

Defensive masterclass

During a short substitution break in the second half, Pune coach David Platt tried his best to shout out instructions to as many players as he could. Simultaneously, near the centre circle, Pune defender Roger Johnson was doing a similar thing. His focus, though, was particularly on fellow centre back Dharmaraj Ravanan.

Yet that wasn’t the only moment the 32-year-old was guiding a teammate. Throughout the game, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers defender, in his first appearance at the ISL, goaded his teammates from the back. His performance was instrumental in the hosts keeping a clean sheet.

Johnson kept a check on the opposition strikers with his strong and accurate tackles, smart interceptions and towering headers. He also lent his height to good effect in his team’s set plays.

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60 minutes with Mutu

Pune’s marquee player Adrian Mutu made his first start for the hosts following a 15-minute appearance as a substitute in the last game against Mumbai City. The 36-year-old lasted just 60 minutes before he was benched. In that time though the Romanian demonstrated the technical ability that once made him a top striker.

Mutu’s linkup play with his teammates was impeccable. The striker employed a one-touch quick-play routine that set up a teammate, giving him time to find space for the return pass. His touch too was reminiscent of his Chelsea and Juventus days. Nonetheless, the forward did lack the sharpness and pace, as he struggled to outrun opposition defenders — a skill he once exploited almost at will.

Sanli cameo

Replacing Mutu at the halfway mark was Turkish midfielder Tuncay Sanli, who became a hit with the local fans after scoring a brace in the team’s opener. Sanli’s involvement added some pace to the Pune attack, enabling him to stretch the Northeast backline. The veteran also managed to sneak past the defence to collect a long pass and power a shot past the goalkeeper, only to be ruled offside.

Chances come and go

Chances did come aplenty for the away team. “Nine chances in the first half and we couldn’t convert a single one,” lamented Northeast United’s coach Cesar Farias. The easiest opportunity fell for striker Nicolas Velez in the 32nd minute. The Argentine, who scored the only goal in the team’s 3-1 defeat to Kerala Blasters, found himself
unmarked inside the six-yard box with an open goal at his mercy. But sent his header wide.

Scrappy goal

The only goal, an own goal, eventually came in the 73rd minute. Lalrempuia Fanai’s corner kick for the home team caused confusion in the Northeast backline with two defenders converging to attempt a clearance. In the process, the ball came off right-back Zohmingliana Ralte’s head and nestled in the back of the net.

Indian football team stranded in turkmenistan

New Delhi: The Indian football team got stranded in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, because of bad weather. India were to travel to Muscat, Oman, via Dubai for their World Cup qualifier on October 13. But the team got stuck up at the Ashgabat International Airport due to late arrival of flights. The Indian team left the hotel in Ashgabat at 1pm (Turkmenistan time) and will not be able to board any flight till 3am local time due to bad weather. India were supposed to reach Muscat past midnight following a connecting flight from Dubai, after leaving Ashgabat at 5:30pm.

“The sudden change of events comes as a huge disadvantage. We had an agreement with the Oman Football Association about the practice sessions, but we are helpless at the moment,” India coach Stephen Constantine told AIFF’s official Twitter handle. “It puts us at further disadvantage. Every training session is so important and we cannot afford to miss any. I am also worried about the recovery of the players.”