Pune: Jeje Lalpekhlua and Lester Fernandes are carrying lots of expectations on their shoulders after their stupendous show against McDowells Mohun Bagan 10 days ago, but after Pune FC had mid-season rest, it would be back to the business, and again another Kolkata giant is posing a challenge at their doorstep.
The 2-1 win against Bagan raised Pune FC to No 5 position, but from now on, it will be as uphill task to keep the momentum going and stay in the top five with the League yet again going into full swing.
Kingfisher East Bengal, who had an early practice on Friday, was upbeat about the Round XIV I-League football match that will go live from Balewadi Sports Complex ground on Saturday. With 26 points from 13 matches and currently occupying No 3 position, the Kolkata giant, however, should not take the home team lightly given their latest exploits.
“It was a very important win for us. Excellent teamwork and good effort from entire team, which finally helped keep aside the pre-match pressure of doing well against a good team,” is how Pune FC coach Derrick Pereira had explained his feelings after the Bagan match.
But to expect the team to perform at the same level after 10-odd day of rest would be too much to ask. It would entirely depend on the situation at the given time and how well Pune FC strikers led by Jeje and Douhou Pierre responds to the mid-fielder’s game plan.
Jeje had started against Bagan from bench, but Pereira put him in early on and that paid the dividends as the striker scored the equalizer to Odafa Okolie’s early strike.
Pune FC lacked punch without Jeje, who has been one of the busiest striker in India doing duty for his club and the National side with aplomb.
His experience of playing against Bayern Munich FC in the Bhaichung Bhutia Farewell Match this Tuesday must have made Jeje more mature, but then he hasn’t had as much rest as other team members had after the sparkling show against Bagan on January 3.
“It’s an open league so far and you’ll never know. Many teams are really fighting for the title. The first leg showed that the difference between teams is minimal and the team that wants it more on the day will win,” were Pereira’s words.
This season, East Bengal thrashed Pune FC 3-1 at Kolkata, but then that was in front of huge partisan crowd something that Balewadi never ever witnessed.
Another positive for Pune FC is that they haven’t lost in last five meetings, winning three and drawing two, while East Bengal won three, drew two and lost one.
The match is slated for 6:30 pm.
Head to Head:
Total Matches - 5
Pune FC Won - 2
East Bengal Won - 2
Drawn- 1
Pune FC Goals - 5
East Bengal Goals - 6
AI hopes to arrest slide against Shillong Lajong
Pune: Air India is hoping that their slide will be arrested with a full-strength squad without injuries or cards will be at disposal when they take on Shillong Lajong FC in the Round XIV match in the I-League football championship at the Balewadi Sports Complex ground here on Saturday.
Much against the expectations, Air India had picked up pace with three straight wins last month including against league leaders Dempo SC helped them to climb as high as No 5 in the standings, but losses against Mohun Bagan and East Bengal before the mid-season break put brakes on their surge upwards.
“We are in good shape now. The rest has done a lot of good for us and with no injuries and entire team to choose from, I would hope that the team will do its best against Shillong Lajong,” said Air India coach Santosh Kashyap.
Currently placed at No 7 with 19 points from 13 matches, Air India is hoping that finally they would be able to break the jinx against Lajong.
“Lajong is a good side and they are improving by every match. We saw them playing against Salgaocar. They played good football and were unlucky to lose that match,” observed Kashyap.
This season, when Air India travelled to Shillong’s home ground, the two teams played a fantastic encounter and but for acrobatic display under the bar by Pawan Kumar, Air India would have lost that tie, which ended goalless.
“That was something of a match. It could have gone any way, but I must say Lajong played very good football and except for Pawan Kumar’s heroics, we would have lost crucial points there,” Kashyap reminded.
“When we drew against Lajong in November, we realized they are just as young side as us. They have some excellent players so we will have to keep our guard intact and go for the kill,” said Kashyap
Lajong, on the other hand has had a see-saw journey through their last five encounters, winning two, losing two and drawing one.
But when they take the ground at Balewadi, their second match here this season, they would know that they had held mighty Pune FC to a goalless draw in the season opener in October.
The match is slated for 3 pm.