I-League: Pune FC Thrash Sporting To Take The Goan Side Closer To Relegation

Sergei Tokov created another opportunity when his pass to Edmar eventually led to a Pune freekick as Kenji Arai handled the ball just outside the box.

Douhou stepped up to take the freekick but narrowly missed the target.

Sporting struggled to create chances against a stubborn Pune defence, who have let in the least number of goals this season.

Derrrick Pereira's were clearly the better side in the first period but they only led 1-0 at the break.

Just a minute after the restart Pune doubled their advantage when Izumi Arata got on the end of a long ball from Godwin Franco and coolly slotted the ball past a helpless Felix D'Souza.

Visitors Sporting tried to get back in the game but were not able to get behind the Pune backline.

The match was well and truly put to bed in the 64th minute when Edmar scored Pune's third and his second of the night with a powerful left footed finish.

A minute later Douhou bagged the fourth when he rounded off a well crafted move, which was initiated by former India captain Venkatesh, with a neat finish past Felix D'Souza.

Pune played within themselves for the rest of the game but in added time Edmar did put the ball in the back of the net after finishing a pass from Jeje. However the linesman flagged for offside to deny Edmar his first ever I-League hat-trick.

The result keeps Pune in fourth place but they are level on points with Mahindra and Churchill, who have two games in hand.

Sporting remain rock bottom and two points off safety with only one round remaining.

Goalscorers: Edmar Figueira 17', 64', Izumi Arata 46', Douhou Pierre 65'