Pune: Pune FC bounced back to winning ways with a dominating 2-0 victory over Mohammedan Sporting in an I-League encounter here on Wednesday.
Striker Thongkhosiem Haokip (43rd minute) and winger Gabriel Fernandes (54th) scored for the Red Lizards.
The result completed Pune FC’s first double-win over any team in the ongoing season and also ended their six-match winless run in all competitions since December.
At home, this was the Pune outfit’s first victory after four games, which includes two losses and two draws.
Pune FC’s last win at home was on November 6 when they beat the league leaders Bengaluru FC 1-0.
The win put Pune FC on par with Sporting Clube de Goa on 28 points from 16 matches, but the Mike Snoei-coached team has played one match more than the Goan outfit and are in third with Sporting second.
Bengaluru FC lead the table with 30 points from 15 matches.
Victory is also good for Rangdajied United FC, as it keeps Mohammedan (in 12th place on 13 points) within leapfrogging distance of the bottom-placed club (on 12 points).
Mumbai hold United
Meanwhile, in the other game of the day, played in Kolkata, visitors Mumbai FC were able to hold United SC to a 1-1 draw.
The home side took the lead through Liberian Eric Brown just before the interval and held on to their slender advantage until the end of regulation time as technical director Subrata Bhattacharya was eyeing a winning start to his new innings with United SC.
But in the first minute of stoppage time, Mumbai’s Yusif Yakubu was brought down just outside the United box and Rodrigues scored from the resulting free kick to take Mumbai five points clear of Rangdajied. (PTI)