PUNE: Though Pune FC have eight points less than the table-toppers Churchill Brothers, they are, on papers, still in contention for the crown. So. with four matches still to play, they don’t want to let a single chance go.
So, when the Red Lizards take on Air India in the Round 25 match of the I-League football championship, nothing less than full points will satisfy them at the Balewadi Sports Complex stadium.
The 2012-13 season has been quite remarkable for Pune FC. However, the Round 23 loss against Churchill Brothers has come as knocking blow for them as their chances of winning the title reduced quite a bit.
Pune FC are coming into the match after winning against gutsy ONGC FC last Sunday, while Air India are having a wretched run having lost four of the last five matches with the other being drawn. In contrast, Pune FC have three wins including that against defending champion Dempo SC, a draw against Shillong Lajong and that crucial away loss to Churchill on April 5.
Pune FC is currently placed at No. 4 with 40 points. A win on the morrow will again take Pune FC to No 3 spot, albeit on equal 43 points with the No. 2 placed East Bengal. Air India, on the other hand, are at No. 13 with 19 points from 23 matches and are very much in the relegation zone.
Once again Pune FC will look forward to the tried and tested combination of South Sudanese striker James Moga and the Liberia-born Australian Boima Karpeh to give them early lead on the turf that is their home ground.
Though Jeje Lalpekhlua has been off-colour for a while, Pereira seems to stick with the striker, who is a regular feature in the national side. In the mid-field Douhou Peirre, Khanthang Paite and Izumi Arata have been dependable, while Gurjinder Singh, Chika Wali and Zohmingliama Ralte have held the defence tight.
The two teams have last played in January 2012 when they drew 2-2, but in the earlier face-off in the 2011-12 season, Pune had won 2-0 at home.
The AIFF
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