ISL 2018-19, FC Goa 4-2 Pune City FC: 5 Talking Points

#2 Reddy makes changes to the backline

Changes in the backline did not help FC Pune City (Image Courtesy: ISL)

FC Pune City's dreadful start to the season cost their head coach Miguel Angel Portugal his job. Technical Director Pradhyum Reddy took charge for this game and there were some changes seen in the playing XI too.

Not happy with the way Pune's defence had been faring, Reddy made three changes in defence from the last game.

Matt Mills was the only one to keep his place – out went Sarthak Golui, Martin Diaz and Sahil Panwar and in their places came Ashutosh Mehta, Gurtej Singh and Lalchhuanmawia Fanai.

For Gurtej and Ashutosh it was their first starts of the season while for Fanai it was a return to the eleven after he started the first two games.

The changes though had little impact; Goa were able to get through Pune’s backline with ease especially down the flanks.

The Pune defence wasn’t able to exert any pressure on Goa’s players when they had the ball and as a result it was too convenient for the home team to exert their influence.

While Goa scored four times, in truth they could have scored plenty more.