FC Pune City beat Mumbai City FC 3-1 in their Indian Super League-II opener at the Shree Chhatrapati Shivaji Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune yesterday
FC Pune City's Tuncay Sanli celebrates after scoring against Mumbai City FC in an Indian Super League-II match at the Shree Chhatrapati Shivaji Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune. yesterday
Pune: FC Pune City beat Mumbai City FC 3-1 in their Indian Super League-II opener at the Shree Chhatrapati Shivaji Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune yesterday.
Also Read: ISL 2: Unlucky FC Pune's Israil Gurung gets lucky
FC Pune City's Tuncay Sanli celebrates after scoring against Mumbai City FC in an Indian Super League-II match at the Shree Chhatrapati Shivaji Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune. yesterday. Pic/ISL
ADVERTISEMENT
Pune's Tuncay Sanli scored two goals but it was right winger Israil Gurung, who stole the show with two assists and a goal in a match billed as the Maharashtra Derby.
Both of Sanli's goals came from delightful crosses into the box by Gurung, before the 26-year-old's audacious chip from outside the box landed into the net after a deflection, much to the disbelief of everyone at the Pune stadium.
Mumbai had only themselves to blame for the defeat as the first two Pune goals came due to lax defending. The Mumbai forwards too were erratic with their final balls in the box.
With Sunil Chhetri and Subrata Paul away on India duty, Haitian defender Frantz Bertin was the visitors' surprise choice for the captain's armband in a match which saw both marquee players, Pune's Adrian Mutu and Mumbai's player-manager Nicolas Anelka, start the game on the bench.
Mutu did not start as he was not match fit Mumbai assistant coach Oscar Bruzon said that he was worried about his side's defence after the loss.
Also Read: ISL 2: Asst Renedy Singh's knowledge of Indian players invaluable, says David Platt
"Pune were completely beaten in the first half. But one tactical change in the second half, when Tuncay dropped deeper in the midfield, changed the game.
I'm not worried about my side's attack, I'm worried by our defence. We cannot complain about the result as we lacked temper (temperament), pace and intensity in the second half," observed Bruzon, who added that Anelka did not start as he had flu during the week.
Frenchman Anelka did finally make an appearance for Mumbai City FC in the 75th minute, but by then, the visitors' fate had already been sealed.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
