FC Pune City hold FC Goa to a thrilling 1-1 draw at the Fatorda stadium

FC Goa conceded the lead to only get a point against FC Pune City

A game of two halves saw both sides walk away with a point from Fatorda stadium as FC Goa were held to a 1-1 draw after leading at half-time against FC Pune City. Goals for both sides in the second half did not capture Goa’s dominance in the first half, this one truly living up to the phrase “game of two halves”.

Goa Coach, Zico surprisingly decided to field a back 3 in an ambitious 3-4-3 lineup and made six changes owing to injuries. His counterpart, David Platt, however, kept it simple and adopted a fairly familiar 4-4-2 while making 3 alterations to the starting XI.

Both the sides started off with the aim of keeping the ball. Goa had a sense of urgency in their game play and was passing the ball at a very high pace. Throughout the tournament Pune’s, Didier Zokora has looked like a tank in midfield, making key interceptions and powering forward from the middle for Pune whenever need be. It was no different today.

The home team had the first sight at goal in the 10th minute. Haokip was released by Moura with a delightful through ball from the centre. The forward found himself in a 1v1 position against keeper Simonsen but his weak shot was just cleared off the line by defender Johnson. That move looked elementary and would have frustrated Pune Coach, David Platt.

Goa kept asking questions of the Pune defense and squandered a gilt-edged opportunity to take the lead. Former Dempo striker, Abranches roved forward from the right and only had the keeper to beat. He couldn’t keep his composure as he slashed the ball wide of the mark.

Minutes later, Mandar then produced a great piece of improvisation and cut inside from the right in typical Ronaldo fashion to let loose. His stinging shot hit the underside of crossbar. Platt look concerned at the sidelines and was working overtime instructing his strikers, Tuncay and Uche post that blitzkrieg from the home side. His side was fortunate not to be 2-3 goals behind.

Pune could have taken the lead against the run of play. Shorey whipped in a corner from the left and the resulting loose ball caused chaos in the Goan box. The ball fell kindly to Kalu Uche whose audacious back heel was blocked by keeper Andrade.

Almost instantly as the half began, Goa took the lead with a well-worked move. Mandar initiated the process from the left wing and found Lucca to his immediate right. The midfielder sent in a quality ball across the face of goal causing uncertainty in the Pune defense. The ball ran all the way across to Romeo on the right who blasted home from an acute angle to give his side a deserved lead, though the final touch was off Roger for an own goal.

Seconds later at the other end, Uche exhibited some remarkable body strength to shrug off his marker and let loose inside the box. He didn’t catch that shot every well due to some last minute closing down from Arnolin but still managed to get the shot off. Slowly but steadily the ball looked like entering the goal but hit the post. That was agonizingly close. Unlike the 1st half, the game looked stretched with both teams going at full throttle.

The home side should have doubled their lead in the 59th minute. Leo Moura found himself outside the box and looked like taking a shot. After a drop of the shoulder, he feigned an attempt and passed it to Mandar on the left. The winger was open to strike but his left footed shot was parried away by keeper Simonsen who was at full stretch.

With virtually no efforts at goal Pune equalized in the sixty-fourth minute. Substitute, Verhoek who came on for Tuncay just seconds back whipped in a cross from the right and found Eugeneson Lyngdoh. The Meghalayan was positioned in the box and did extremely well to direct his header on target from distance. The amount of power that went into that was just unreal, especially coming of Lyngdoh’s head.

Pune displayed character in the 2nd half and squandered a chance to take the lead in the 81st minute. The Goan defense was in slumber mode. Lucio made a meal of a clearance which was intercepted by Lenny inside the box. His shot was expertly saved by Andrade, all this while his defenders stood still looking at the proceedings. It must be pointed out that Nicky Shorey was at his reliable best for Pune. The Brit contributed in attack and looked sturdy down the left wing all night long.