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I-League: Pune FC Draw Yet Again As Clash Against Mumbai FC Ends All Square
Playing in front of their home fans, Derrick Pereira's side couldn't hold for long to an early goal in the first half...
24-Oct-2009 10:27:24 PM
Pune FC drew their third game in four appearances in the I-League, as struggling Mumbai FC held on for a 1-1 draw at the Balewadi Sports Complex today. The hosts had taken the lead when returning skipper Shanmugam Venkatesh scored in the 15th minute, but the lead was short-lived as Mumbai's Darren Caldera, equalized only six minutes later, to end the goalscoring for the day.
The atmosphere at the ground was nothing short of electric, as the home crowd turned out in large numbers to support the Pune boys. It was close to a packed house, as around 9,000 people made it for the game, and cheered the lads on in full voice.
And they got an early goal in return as well, through skipper Shanmugam Venkatesh. The skipper could only come on as a substitute in Pune's previous game against Sporting Clube de Goa, but started Saturday's match after reaching full fitness.
The former India international made a smart run into the Mumbai penalty area in the 15th minute, and Godwin provided a great ball from the left for the captain to head it in, sending the crowd into delirium. However, any excitement was short lived, as Mumbai FC equalized six minutes later, after some shoddy defending from the home side.
Caitano Costa ran back and covered a bouncing ball well on Mumbai's right flank, but couldn't retain possession, and after another failed attempt at a clearance from the defence, Darren Caldera popped up inside the Pune penalty area to hammer home, and silence the home crowd.
However, Derrick Pereira's side kept pushing forward, and had more chances in the first half to regain the lead. The best of those chances fell to Serge Tokov, the left back-cum-left winger, who missed a sitter after being played through one on one against the goalkeeper.
Midfielder Izumi Arata also went close, but his shot was saved, meaning that the teams went into half time with the scores level.
The second half didn't see too many chances, as the visitors defended well and even created a few good moves going forward. Pune, too, pushed for a goal, and were supported well by the spectators, but a goal eluded both sides.
One of the best chances in the second half fell to Venkatesh, but an odd bounce just before he took his shot saw the chance go to waste. This was the second time the pitch has contributed to Pune's woes, after Edmar's shot against East Bengal in the opening roung got stuck in the mud.
Both sides left the ground with a point, a result Pune are all too used to by now.
Goalscorers:
Pune FC: Shanmugam Venkatesh (15')
Mumbai FC: Darren Caldera (21')
Atishay Agarwal
The atmosphere at the ground was nothing short of electric, as the home crowd turned out in large numbers to support the Pune boys. It was close to a packed house, as around 9,000 people made it for the game, and cheered the lads on in full voice.
And they got an early goal in return as well, through skipper Shanmugam Venkatesh. The skipper could only come on as a substitute in Pune's previous game against Sporting Clube de Goa, but started Saturday's match after reaching full fitness.
The former India international made a smart run into the Mumbai penalty area in the 15th minute, and Godwin provided a great ball from the left for the captain to head it in, sending the crowd into delirium. However, any excitement was short lived, as Mumbai FC equalized six minutes later, after some shoddy defending from the home side.
Caitano Costa ran back and covered a bouncing ball well on Mumbai's right flank, but couldn't retain possession, and after another failed attempt at a clearance from the defence, Darren Caldera popped up inside the Pune penalty area to hammer home, and silence the home crowd.
However, Derrick Pereira's side kept pushing forward, and had more chances in the first half to regain the lead. The best of those chances fell to Serge Tokov, the left back-cum-left winger, who missed a sitter after being played through one on one against the goalkeeper.
Midfielder Izumi Arata also went close, but his shot was saved, meaning that the teams went into half time with the scores level.
The second half didn't see too many chances, as the visitors defended well and even created a few good moves going forward. Pune, too, pushed for a goal, and were supported well by the spectators, but a goal eluded both sides.
One of the best chances in the second half fell to Venkatesh, but an odd bounce just before he took his shot saw the chance go to waste. This was the second time the pitch has contributed to Pune's woes, after Edmar's shot against East Bengal in the opening roung got stuck in the mud.
Both sides left the ground with a point, a result Pune are all too used to by now.
Goalscorers:
Pune FC: Shanmugam Venkatesh (15')
Mumbai FC: Darren Caldera (21')
Atishay Agarwal
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