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Friday, March 29 2024
Cricket
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FC Pune City down Mumbai City FC 3-1 in the Maharashtra derby

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FC Pune City ride a Tuncay Sanli brace and a goal from Israil Gurung to put one over Mumbai City FC in the Maharashtra derby at Pune’s Shree Chhatrapati Shivaji Sports Complex on Monday.

Two headers from Sanli and a Gurung shot was enough to see off neighbours Mumbai in a passionate encounter. The combination of Sanli and Gurung ultimately led to Mumbai’s downfall after a Frederic Piquionne goal had put the away side level.

The first chance of the game came with just two minutes on the clock. Piquionne dribbled past his marker to send a low cross into the box that was met by Gabriel Fernandes who fired his shot straight into the keeper’s hands.

Pavel Cmovs almost netted into his own net a few minutes later when his attempted clearance almost caught out his keeper Albino Gomes in goal.

The home side soon took the lead in the 12th minute after a lightning quick counter-attack culminated with Gurung’s pinpoint cross being met by Turkish international Sanli at the far post to put the hosts 1-0 up.

Mumbai City FC immediately pushed on in search of an equalizer and grew stronger as the half progressed. A Sony Norde shot that hit the post should have put them level.

The breakthrough would however come moments later after a delightfully hit Ashutosh Mehta ball from the right found Piquionne unmarked in the box. The Frenchman hand no hesitation and headed past the keeper to draw his side level in the 34th minute.

Mumbai could have taken the lead four minutes later with a swift counter-attack that ended in Fernandes firing a tame effort straight at the Pune keeper.

The visitors were on the front foot by this stage and it was Mehta again who threaded through a telling pass to Juan Aguilera. The Spaniard hit the target but the Pune keeper was positioned perfectly for the incoming shot.

The last chance of the first half fell to Mumbai’s Norde. The Haitian blazed his shot over the Pune goal moments before the whistle.

FC Pune City started the second-half stronger of the two sides as David Platt sent out his troops with new-found impetus. However, the first big chance of the half came Mumbai’s way in the 54th minute when a right-footed effort from Andre Moritz flew just over the bar.

Pune though were not to be denied. The Stallions re-established their lead two minutes later with another Israil Gurung cross that was headed in by Sanli for his second of the night. It would be the 33-year-old’s last bit of action in the game as marquee man Adrian Mutu came on to replace him at the hour mark.

The game was put beyond all doubt in the 68th minute by the man of the moment himself, Gurung. The winger was having a great game, having already provided the assists for Pune’s first two goals. And it was his attempted cross from the right which looped over the Mumbai City FC keeper Gomes to put the men in Orange and Purple in charge of the game with a two-goal margin.

Pune could have extended their lead further in the 74th minute but for a brilliant tackle from Frantz Bertin that would deny Mutu his first goal for the side on debut. The home side controlled the game from this point on. Platt’s men looked like a well drilled unit and were difficult to break down for the visitors.

Mumbai found it difficult to get on the ball as the Pune boys passed it around themselves running down the clock. Nicolas Anelka and co. cut a frustrated figure at the final whistle having been handed their first loss of the season. The home team ran away well-deserved winners with a 3-1 score line to underline their dominance in the game.

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