Bangalore: Pune FC came from a goal down to hold leaders Bengaluru FC 1-1 in an I-League round 23 football encounter at the KSFA Stadium in Bengaluru here on Friday.
Medio Thoi Singh (24th minute) gave Bengaluru FC a first-half lead before substitute Anthony D’Souza (73rd) pulled Pune FC level in the second half. Pune FC stayed in the third place with 31 points, seven behind leaders Bengaluru FC.
Pune coach Mike Snoei made three changes to the starting lineup, handing starts to goalkeeper Arup Debnath, defender Calum Angus and medio Mumtaz Akhtar in place of suspended Amrinder Singh and Anas Edathodika along with the injured Dhanpal Ganesh.
The game began with both sides attacking from the word go. In the fifth minute, Thoi somehow got into the clear inside the Pune FC box, but a timely block by Srikanth Ramu averted any danger.
Midway through the half, the hosts took the lead through Thoi Singh. Winger Sean Rooney beat left back Zohmingliana Ralte on the flank and crossed the ball inside the box. Striker Sunil Chhetri’s first-time effort on the cross came off the near post and rolled on the goal line to hit the far post before coming out. The stray ball was then tapped in from close by Thoi.
The second half was a different story as Pune FC dominated majority of the proceedings. They pulled level midway through the half when two second-half substitutes combined. Defender Othallo Tabia – on for Srikanth – did well to get into the clear on the right and crossed the ball for winger Anthony on for Arata Izumi – who headed home from the far post for his first goal of the season. (IANS)