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With Pune FC’s pride at stake and only two games remaining in the I-League, the Red Lizards go into the Round 25 match against East Bengal Club with hopes to climb back into the top five in the league table.
Pune FC haven’t beaten East Bengal in the last five face-offs, but coach Mike Snoei would like to end the campaign on a high given that season’s last AFC Cup tie, against Kitchee FC of Hong Kong, is only three days away.
Currently placed at an all-time low for this season at No 7 with 31 points, Pune FC will be looking forward to regroup and take on the third-placed East Bengal, who have 37 points.
Earlier this week Pune FC faced East Bengal at the Saltlake Stadium and returned battered after going down 1-3. Things haven’t changed much since then for Pune FC and only solace is that the bottom-placed Churchill Brothers beat East Bengal two days ago at home.
The travel-weary Red-and-Gold brigade, who arrived from Goa last evening had an early morning practice, while Pune FC preferred to take the pitch at late afternoon.
Surely it will be a battle of sorts as a win would take the visitors to the second position below leaders Bengaluru FC who are atop with 41 points. For Pune FC, a win will propel them into the top five, something that Snoei would definitely like to make it.
Recent days have not been good for the Pune lads as they have faced a series of defeats. On Saturday, Pune FC will go into the game knowing that there will be immense pressure on them to win as they cannot afford to lose further and go down. Also with the pressure from the fans, who have expressed displeasure over the current performance, registering a win will be their top priority.
The home team will bank upon Douhou Pierre, Riga Mustapha, Calum Angus and Mirjan Pavlovic. Also the young brigade of Thongkhosiem Haokip, Anthony D’Souza, Gabriel Fernandes, Salam Ranjan Singh will be all out to give their best shot. Local lad Prakash Thorat, who recently became the first Pune player to play in the AFC Cup during the last encounter against Nay Pyi Taw, will be another player too look forward to.
It will be interesting to see what changes will Pune FC coach Mike Snoei come up with in order to turn the tables against the Kolkata outfit.
East Bengal who are under the able guidance of Armando Colaco seem to be the favorites as they go in for the game. East Bengal players Edeh Chidi and Lalrindika Ralte were the goal scorers during their last game against Pune FC.
Also players like Raju Gaikwad, Abhishek Das, and Robert Lalthlamuana will add to the attack of the visitors.
