36th Federation Cup: Pune FC clinch opener; come from a goal down to beat Shillong Lajong 3-1

Pune FC showed character and belief to come from a goal down and clinch a thrilling 3-1 win over Northeast side Shillong Lajong FC in their 36th Federation Cup Group B opener at the Tilak Maidan in Vasco on Monday afternoon.In a game that Pune FC dominated from the start, it was Lajong FC who took the lead through striker Lalrammuana in the 16th minute. Pune FC fought back to pull level through winger Anthony D’Souza (45+2') at the stroke of half time before scoring two more times through skipper Arata Izumi (66') and striker Eric Brown (90+3') in the second half to complete the come-from-behind-win. With this win, Pune FC go to the top of the Group-B table with three points ahead of Bengaluru FC (3 pts) on goal difference.Pune FC began the game on the offensive and created a few chances in the opening quarter. In the tenth minute, left-back Munmun Lugun got into the clear and sent in a crisp cross from left flank which the keeper misjudged and failed to punch out. However, Anthony and Eric clear inside the box too failed to convert into an empty net.At the other end, Lajong FC took the lead against the run of play. Lalrammuana, clearly in an offside position, controlled a long ball played from his own half and rounded off keeper Amrinder Singh and defender Zohimngliana Ralte to score. Thereafter, Pune FC continued to push ahead in search of an equaliser but was unable to break down the Lajong FC backline who defended deep.Pune FC's perseverance finally paid off as they pulled level in the final minute of the first half. Playmaker Ryuji Sueoka, down the middle, played a nice defence splitting through ball for Anthony on the edge of the box on the left. The winger controlled and hammered a low drive into the top of the net from inside the box to give Pune FC a boost going into the breather.The second half saw Pune FC soak pressure in the early exchanges. Medio Boithang Haokip fired a few longrangers but went over which was followed by a close header from Durga Boro which went into the side-netting. Having seen off a wave of Lajong FC attacks early on with some resolute defending, Pune FC took control of the proceedings once again.In the 56th minute, Sueoka went close after controlling a cross from defender Raju Yumnam on the left. The Japanese attacker controlled the ball well but his effort sailed inches over the crossbar. Minutes later, it was Eric who went close. The Liberian striker timed his run well to meet Dhanpal Ganesh’s cross in from the right but his header lacked power in front of the goal.Having pushed hard, Pune FC finally took the lead in the 66th minute. Eric played a neat through pass for Anthony on the left who fired in a low shot from inside the box. The attempt was blocked by the keeper who failed to keep the ball in control allowing Arata to slot home the rebound from close.Meanwhile, Pune FC continued to dominate the proceedings restricting Lajong FC to only a few counter attacks. In the dying minutes of the game, Lajong FC almost pulled level. Medio Durga Boro sent in a dangerous low cross into the box only for defender Luciano Sabrosa to save the day with a last-ditch clearance.Nonetheless, Pune FC finally sealed the game in the second minute of injury time. Eric, who went on a solo, lost possession just outside the Lajong box. However, he fought back to win the ball and drilled home a powerful shot from inside the box to get onto the scoresheet.

(First published at http://arunfoot.blogspot.com/)