PUNE: Douhou Pierre struck second-half brace while James Moga and Boima Karpeh slotted one each on either side of halftime as Pune FC scored an emphatic 4-0 win over Air India in the rescheduled Round 6 I-League Football championship match here on Sunday (April 28).
The win took Pune FC’s tally to 49 points from 25 matches — two behind Churchill Brothers (51), who have played 24 matches. Yet another loss for Air India meant they stay at No. 13 position on 19 points.
James Moga opened the scoring in the 34th minute and then Douhou scored twice, in the 50th and 77th minutes before Boima Karpeh scored in the 84th to give Air India a resounding win.
This is Pune FC’s best-ever performance in terms of points tally in their five years in I-League. Should Pune FC finish at No. 2, that will be best ever finish even though the Red Lizards have an outside chance of winning the title —should Churchill lose both their matches and Pune FC win their last league match against Pailan Arrows on May 11.
Having beaten Air India 6-0 eight days ago, Pune FC were a confident lot. That they had beaten Mohun Bagan four days ago added to their confidence.
After testing Air India for some 30 minutes, it was James Moga who fired Red Lizards into lead with a header that beat Air India goalkeeper Bubai Singh all corners. It was a perfect cross from the left by Khanthang Paite that Moga headed in past the outstretched hands of Singh.
Air India did make some forays early in the second half, but their moves were foiled by alert Pune FC goalkeeper Amrinder Singh, who was doing the duty under the bar in place of first choice goalkeeper Abhra Mondal.
The hosts doubled their advantage almost instantly as Moga and Douhou combined again. Douhou dispossessed an opponent in the midfield; Moga picked up the loose ball and set up Douhou who held off a defender’s challenge before placing it well past the keeper.
In the 77th minute, Douhou scored his second to hand Pune FC a three goal lead. Controlling a throw-in from the left, the playmaker turned around, beat a couple of defenders with some quick feet and finished at the far post.
Air India were restricted to few attacks but whenever they created an opportunity, they were denied by the in-form Amrinder.
Six minutes from the full-time whistle, substitute Boima Karpeh, on for Moga, put the final nail in Air India’s coffin. The striker controlled Chika Wali’s long ball on the left, skipped past a defender inside the box and slid the ball at the far post. The goal was almost identical to his strike against the Airmen a week back.
The AIFF
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