U15 Youth League: Pune FC log third consecutive win; hammer PIFA Colaba 6-1

A brace each from striker Ishan Dey (3rd Penalty & 32nd minute) and medio Mozaffar Ali (13th & 74th) along with goals from substitute Gulam Ansari (54th) and playmaker Cladeo Nongpluh (69th) handed Pune FC a well-deserved win.

The hosts played the final minutes of the game with ten men after keeper Deepak Saravanan was sent off in the 88th minute.

The three points earned meant Pune FC consolidated their top spot in the Maharashtra Zone moving up to nine points from three games.

On an overcast afternoon, Pune FC began the game on the offensive and took the lead instantly in the 3rd minute. After Mozaffar did well to beat his marker on the right and run free on the flank, his low cross into the box was handled by a defender and the referee awarded a penalty to the hosts. Ishan stepped up and converted from the spot to score for the third consecutive game.

Ten minutes later, Pune FC doubled their lead after Mozaffar got on the scoresheet. The move began with winger Shreepad Dorge skipping past a couple of defenders on the left before cutting back to Siddhant Punjabi inside the box. While Siddhant’s first time attempt was kept out by the rival custodian, Mozaffar rushed to head in the rebound scoring for the third consecutive game.

Pune FC continued to dominate proceedings thereafter, and created a few close chances but lacked the finish in the final third.

After continuous pressure, Pune FC finally got the third in the 32nd minute. Mozaffar once again was the architect of the goal as he dispossessed an opponent on the left and ran free before beating a defender and crossing the ball to Ishan inside the box on the right. The striker controlled and hammered home a low attempt at the first post to complete his brace.

Pune FC took their three goal advantage into the breather.

The second half was a similar story as the hosts continued to dominate. After some half chances early one, Pune FC increased their lead in the 54th minute. Substitute Gulam Ansari, on for Shreepad, controlled medio Sachin’s long ball into the box and blasted home to score with his first touch.

Midway through the half, there was a flurry of goals as both sides managed to find the net three times. First it was Pune FC’s playmaker Cladeo who finished off a brilliantly crafted move in the 69th minute. He combined for a quick one-two with Saurabh Salape on the left before scoring with a grounder from the edge of the box to make it 5-0. The goal meant Cladeo too scored for the third game running.

Four minutes later, PIFA pulled one back as winger Ranjan Tamang capitalised on miscommunication between Pune FC goalkeeper Deepak and defender Aryan Thite to slot home into an empty net.

Pune FC restored their five goal cushion a minute later scoring straight from the kick off. A long ball from the center found Ishan clear on the right. The striker ran into space and floated in a cross to the box which was headed home by Mozaffar to complete his brace.

Towards the end, there was some drama as Pune FC were reduced to ten men after keeper Deepak was sent off. The young custodian rushed out to clear a ball but when the clearance fell for an attacker who let fly from distance, Deepak unintentionally pulled off a save outside the box resulting in a sending off in the 88th minute.

Nonetheless, Pune FC managed to hold on in the final minutes and seal a comfortable 6-1 win.