I-League: Pune FC go down 0-2 to Royal Wahingdoh FC

A brace from striker Jackichand Singh (38th & 68th minute) handed Pune FC their second loss of the season.

The defeat also meant Pune FC dropped down to the fourth place in the table with 16 points in ten games behind Royal Wahingdoh (17 pts) who moved up to third with the win.

Going into the game, Coach Karim Bencherifa made two changes in the squad handing starts to midfielder Lalramluaha Hmar and striker Shoaib Syed.

It was the hosts Royal Wahingdoh who first went close in the second minute. After playmaker Bekay Bewar was fouled just outside the box by the Pune FC defense, midfielder Lalmangaihsanga’s effort on the freekick came off the crossbar.

Having soaked pressure early on, Pune FC settled in and began pushing up more. Attacker Ishfaq Ahmed playing wide on the left went solo on a couple of occasions but couldn’t penetrate through the Wahingdoh defense.

At the other end, Wahingdoh went close twice through Jackichand but the striker fired wide from close range.

Midway through the half, Pune FC had another chance. Medio Arata Izumi dispossessed an opponent in the Pune FC half and fed a long ball to Shoaib on the right flank. The young striker controlled and lobbed the ball for Ishfaq clear on the run towards the box. However, the onrushing keeper managed to intercept just in time to keep Pune FC at bay.

Pune FC created a few more close chances, but were falling short of getting into the rival box. Meanwhile, Arup Debnath produced a wonderful save in the 37th minute to deny Kim Song Yong from close range after Jackichand did well to set him up from the left.

A minute later, the hosts took the lead after some good work by Jackichand. Winger Lalmangaihsanga cut in a low ball from the left to Jackichand, who with his first touch beat the defense and fired a low left-footer past Arup at the far post.

Pune FC had a couple of half chances but couldn’t make them count and went into the breather trailing 0-1.

At the start of the second half, Coach Bencherifa brought in Prakash Thorat and Lalrempuia Fanai in place of Shoaib and Lalramluaha Hmar to add more firepower upfront.

Beginning to dominate possession, Pune FC attacked with intent and went close a couple of times in the opening minutes thanks to some pressure from the substitutes down either flank.

As the game progressed, Pune FC continued to push up but once again lacked the killer ball in the final third.

Meanwhile, the hosts doubled their advantage in the 68th minute. Jackichand capitalised on a defensive lapse from the Pune FC backline and ran clear towards the goal on a through pass. With a couple of defenders chasing, the striker did well to slide the ball past an advanced Arup to complete his brace.

The hosts almost tripled their lead a minute later. Getting into the clear on the edge of the box, Beekay Bewar fired a low shot which Arup brilliantly kept away with a diving save.

Pune FC didn’t back down and kept pushing ahead and had a chance in the 80th minute. After an attack from the right was cleared, the ball fell for Dhanpal Ganesh down the middle and he fired a left-footer which went agonisingly over.

Both sides had a few half-chances in the final ten minutes but Wahingdoh managed to hold on for a 2-0 win.