ISL: Pune City 1-0 NorthEast United

FC Pune City pulled off a late winner to edge past NorthEast United FC in the 20th match of the Hero Indian Super League. Both teams had equal opportunities, Pune being more dominant in attack. Franco Colomba’s decision of replacing David Trezeguet with Dudu Omagbemi proved vital as the Nigerian’s long ranger helped another substitute John Goossens score the all-important goal in the 88th minute. NorthEast United FC remained third in the table after yesterday’s defeat while FC Pune City moved up to fourth with 7 points from 5 games.Here are the talking points from the game:

#5 Franco Colomba\'s sending off in injury time

Franco Colomba became first coach in ISL to be sent off

FC Pune City manager Franco Colomba was sent off by referee Santosh Kumar in the dying moments of the game last night. During the five minutes added on, NorthEast won a throw-in but Colomba took the ball and denied Milan Singh to take a quick throw, thus trying to steal some precious seconds.

Milan had an altercation with the Italian coach and the latter even tried to slap the NorthEast midfielder. Santosh Kumar handled the situation well and gave Colomba his marching orders.

Colomba thus became the first coach in the Hero Indian Super League to be sent off during a match.

#4 John Goossens\' arrival will improve Pune City\'s attack

FC Pune City has finally found a proper attacking option up front with the arrival of John Goossens. The ex-Feynoord player was one of the late arrivals at the club.

In yesterday’s game, Italian coach Franco Colomba brought on Goossens in the second half and his introduction added firepower in attack for Pune. Goossens had a couple of good chances to score and could have converted them, but Rehenesh came to the rescue of NorthEast United.

Finally, in the 88th minute, the Dutch midfielder netted the winner. Nigerian Dudu Omagbemi took a screamer of a shot which jolted the crossbar and came back to Goossens who only had to head the rebound into the net.

With the emergence of Goossens, the Pune franchise can breathe a sigh of relief.

#3 NorthEast United\'s defence is compact but poor in attack

NorthEast United has conceded just 4 goals in 6 games. Under the leadership marquee player Joan Capdevila, the defenders have been almost flawless until now. They have remained at the back hardly committing any mistakes.

Their Indian full backs Aiborlang Khongjee and Robin Gurung have also done a commendable job. Even after conceding just 4 goals, the team has managed to score just an equal number of goals, thus hampering their goal difference. Except for their Spanish recruit Koke, all the other attackers have lacked firepower.

Promising Indian striker Durga Boro has been disappointing so far. He missed plenty of opportunities and never looked a threat for the opposition. The same goes for left-winger Zodingliana Ralte. Too much dependence on Koke can be extremely harmful for the Highlanders in the next stages of the tournament.

#2 David Trezeguet has been inconsistent

David Trezeguet was one of the biggest names among the marquee players in the Hero Indian Super League. The French talisman, who has served his country and Italian giants Juventus, was one of the most prolific goal scorers of the previous decade.

FC Pune City roped in Trezeguet as their marquee player and many people believed that he would turn out to be a prized possession. But since the start of the tournament, Trezeguet has failed to impress. His speed has deteriorated, his touches have been very poor and his finishing has not been up to the mark.

The man who had scored several goals in world football is now struggling to score against Indian defenders. The Frenchman has scored two goals in five appearances so far. Even though his goals against FC Goa and Kerala Blasters were commendable, he has been very inconsistent in his overall performance.

Last night against NorthEast, he was substituted in the 62nd minute and his replacement Dudu Omagbemi was much more active and created more chances. The goal in the 88th minute came due to the Nigerian’s screamer of a shot which hit the crossbar and Goossens finished at an empty net.

#1 Exceptional goal keeping by Rehenesh TP

Rehenesh T.P is currently one of the best Indian custodians in the ISL

NorthEast United FC goalkeeper Rehenesh TP is improving match by match. The young goalkeeper of Lajong FC replaced Greek World Cupper Alexandros Tzorvas in the 3rd game of the Hero Indian Super League and has since performed brilliantly.

His goalkeeping skills reached a new height yesterday as he was instrumental in saving three genuine chances for Pune City from one-on-one situations. Even though NorthEast lost the match 1-0, had it been not Rehenesh’s heroics, they would have been beaten by 3 or 4 goals yesterday.

Out of all his saves last night, the one in the second half was the best when Dudu headed a cross towards John Goossens who kicked the ball towards the goal. Rehenesh pulled off an impeccable save to deny them.

His performances between the posts has enabled Ricki Herbert to field an extra foreigner in the attack.