FC Pune City’s home woes in the Indian Super League (ISL) football tournament continued as they could only manage a 1-1 draw against Chennaiyin FC here yesterday
FC Pune City players celebrate a late equaliser against Chennaiyin FC during the ISL-3 tie in Pune yesterday. Pic/Sportzpicz
Pune: FC Pune City’s home woes in the Indian Super League (ISL) football tournament continued as they could only manage a 1-1 draw against Chennaiyin FC here yesterday.
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The defending champions appeared good enough to continue with their winning run, thanks to a fine goal from Jeje Lalpekhlua in the 28th minute.
Pune City, however, rescued a point late in the game after Anibal Rodriguez scored from a free-kick in the 82nd minute at the Balewadi Stadium.
The draw left FC Pune City with just five points from their first five matches — four of them home matches — while Chennaiyin FC moved to the third spot with eight points.
The match marked the return of Pune coach Antonio Habas from a four-match suspension.
Chennaiyin coach Marco Materazzi relegated Jeje to the bench for the last two matches but named him in the starting line-up on Sunday.
He was rewarded for his judgement as Jeje won a tussle with Pune defender Eduardo Ferreira for the ball and capped the move with a superb lob over an out-of-position goalkeeper Edel Bete.
Just when it seemed Chennaiyin would become the first team in this edition of the tournament to notch a hat-trick of victories, Pune equalised from a neatly taken free-kick from just outside the box by Anibal Rodriguez in the 82nd minute.