Pune FC will look to ending the 2014-15 season on a high when they take on Sporting Clube de Goa in their last I-League encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Saturday evening.
The final round clash will be season defining for both. While fifth placed Pune FC (29 points) go into the game with a chance of a top-3 finish, hosts and eighth-placed Sporting Goa (20) will be hoping to avoid relegation, thus making the game a must-win for either side.
However, with four matches being played simultaneously around the country, a lot of factors will come into play when the final standings will be decided and three points will be crucial at the end of the day.
For Pune FC, a positive result and East Bengal (4th, 29 points) dropping points against Shillong Lajong in Shillong will see them rise up to third place. Furthermore, having logged back-to-back away wins against East Bengal and Shillong Lajong in the previous two games, Pune FC will hope to carry forward the momentum.
"This is an important game for us. Sporting is fighting relegation and we need a win to finish in better position. It won't be easy but the boys are well prepared. We hope for a good game to end the season on a high," Pune FC assistant coach Gift Raikhan said on Friday.
"We come into the game after back-to-back important away wins. But we need to stay grounded and not lose focus against a strong Sporting side."
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The game will be the third time both sides face off this season after meeting in the Durand Cup semifinals (Pune FC win 2-1) and in the I-League (draw 1-1), and Pune FC will aim to build on their unbeaten run.
On the team news front, Pune FC will be missing the services of winger Edgar Marcelino and defender Zohmingliana Ralte due to injuries as youngsters Lalrempuia Fanai and Jessel Carneiro have been drafted in as replacements.
Meanwhile, Sporting Goa come into the game after a 0-2 loss to Mohun Bagan in Kolkata. The defeat followed a seven-match unbeaten run including four wins which helped them rise up from the bottom of the standings.
The Goan side will be heavily banking on the strike-duo of Odafa Okolie (five goals) and Anthony Wolfe (4) to fire up front. The pair has scored nine of Sporting's 18 goals this campaign and will provide a challenge for the Pune FC defence led by Luciano Sabrosa. Furthermore, the likes of Brandon Fernandes, Pratesh Shirodkar and Sandesh Jhingan will also form an important part of the side.
Pune FC boasts a better head-to-head, having logged three wins compared to Sporting's two.