I-League: Pune thrashed Air India 6-0 to keep their title hope alive

PUNE: The troika of James Moga, Boima Karpeh and Douhou Pierre virtually toyed with the Air India defence as Pune FC registered a thumping 6-0 win in their Round 25 match in the I-League football championship here on Saturday (April 20).

The three shared four goals among them with South Sudanese striker Moga firing a brace, while substitute Jeje Lalpekhlua and Nikhil Kadam scored one each.

-->

The 13th win of the season from 23 matches put Pune FC back on No. 3 position, tied on 43 points with No. 2 East Bengal. Chuchill Brothers head the table with 48 points. Air India, on the other hand, remained on No. 13 position after losing their 13th match of the season.

Late afternoon start was ideal for Pune FC, who took control of the match soon after the start. But it took 26 minutes, however, to break the ice when Karpeh calmly slotted in a long ball.

It was Air India’s attack that Pune FC goalkeeper Amrinder Singh had repelled — saving a cross from M Pradeep. He pumped the ball forward to Karpeh who was lurking in the Air India box and before the airmen defence could react, the Libera-born Australian had put Pune FC 1-0 ahead.

That brought Douhou to the fore as he found Moga on the left on a counter-attack, but his powerful shot was well blocked by Air India goalkeeper Sukhwinder Singh.

A 33rd minute move by Khanthang Paite, when he fooled the defence with his footwork before taking the shot at the goal, almost saw Pune FC increase the lead. Sukhwinder fumbled in collecting the ball before clearing it to safety.

Three minutes later Moga fired past an advancing Sukhwinder after controlling a neat cross. On changing the ends, there was virtual deluge of goals with Douhou making it 3-0 in the 52nd minute. Douhou’s shot was blocked, but Moga collected the ball in play and found Douhou on the right and this time the Ivorian didn’t fail to convert.

Moga would have been enjoying hattrick but he missed a spot kick in the 54th minute when Sukhwinder dived correctly and parried the ball away.

But he made amends and scored in the 67th minute when substitute F Lalrimpuia disposed an opponent and set up Karpeh, who slid the ball to Moga on the right. The Sudanese striker’s blistering shot beat Sukhwinder all corners for 4-0 lead.

Two more goals came in for Pune FC when Jeje (74th) and Nikhil Kadam (86th) struck to leave Air India in disarray.
The AIFF