A Jackichand Singh strike, straight after the kick-off at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium on Saturday, was enough for FC Pune City to snap Atlético de Kolkata’s unbeaten streak and take them to the top of the Hero Indian Super League Season 2 table.
The game got off to a lightning start with Jackichand Singh capitalising on a long ball forward and finishing first time on his left foot past ATK keeper Juan Calatayud to put his side up 1-0 with just 76 seconds on the clock.
Calatayud would be a busy man and was called into action a minute later to save from a long range effort by Costa Rican Yendrick Ruiz. The hosts were firmly in control of the opening stages as Kolkata struggled to get on the ball.
Pune could have doubled their advantage in the 22nd minute but Tuncay Sanli blazed over the bar with a shot on his weaker left. The defending champions were on the back foot and a blistering quick counter-attack set up two more chances for Pune in a goal-mouth scramble at the half-hour mark. ATK’s defence somehow kept it at 1-0 after attempts from Ruiz and Singh were cleared off the line. Ruiz had another go from distance a minute later but Calatayud was equal to the task. Pune had another opportunity of going into the break with a two-goal advantage in the 41st minute. Eugeneson Lyngdoh’s shot, however, failed to test the keeper.
Kolkata had to wait till the 38th minute of the half for their first shot on goal – a shot by Ofentse Nato from range that he dragged wide off the target. Pune keeper Steven Simonsen got his first touch of the ball four minutes later after making a routine save at near post from ATK’s first shot on target. This was as good as it got for Atlético de Kolkata in the first half. However, they would be happy to be going in at half time being just one goal down.
The second half got underway with Pune maintaining their first-half dominance and attacking Atlético’s goal. Sanli once again fired over the bar after running onto a knock down from a Pune free-kick. The Turkish international was seeing plenty of the ball and had another shot of his saved at the hour mark by Calatayud.
With 10 minutes to play Atlético de Kolkata finally began to crank up the pressure in search of an equalizer. Pune’s keeper Simonsen, who didn’t have much to do for most of the game, made a spectacular save from an Iain Hume effort that looked destined for goal.FC Pune City’s marquee player Adrian Mutu came off the bench and could have put the game to bed five minutes later but his header flew over the bar giving ATK a glimmer of hope as the game entered its final minutes.
Substitute Jaime Gavilan had a go at goal three minutes from time. His effort though was directed straight at the keeper allowing Simonsen to collect easily. Skipper Borja Fernandez also had a golden chance of getting a point for his side, but the Spaniard failed to get his head to an ATK corner much to the relief of FC Pune City who bounced back in fine fashion after their last match to hand Kolkata their first defeat of the season and pick up a deserved win.
