ISL 2018-19: Misfiring FC Pune City set for daunting FC Goa challenge

A win again Pune will send Goa to the top of the table while the visitors have a chance to get off the last position they are sitting at right now

FC Pune City have a tough job on their hands as they make their journey to FC Goa to take on the in-form hosts in the Indian Super League here Sunday.

Not only are they playing against a team which just blew Mumbai City FC to smithereens in a 5-0 rout, they have also decided to part ways with coach Miguel Angel Portugal.

A lacklustre start to the season which saw the Stallions fall to two defeats and a draw cost Portugal his job. They have been listless in front of goal despite having the attacking riches of Emiliano Alfaro and Marcelinho.

In the absence of Portugal, the task for Reddy will be to motivate his charges to give their best against a team which has a formidable attack comprising the likes of Ferran Corominas and Hugo Boumous. Reddy, however, is seeking inspiration from Pune's win over Goa last season.

FC Goa, on the other hand, have sounded out a warning for the other teams in the league with their mauling of Mumbai City. They have scored 10 goals already in three games and have an intimidating feel about them.

The Gaurs have been mighty impressive in the early stages of the league, firing in ten goals and conceding only three. A win on Sunday will see them reclaim their perch at the top of the standings with ten points from a possible 12. 

Pune, on the other hand, sit at the bottom of the points table and any result other than a loss should move them northwards.

SQUAD: Five players have so far scored for FC Goa that shows how good they have been going forward. Their star forward Ferran Corominas has already scored four goals from three matches with plenty of heelp from the midfield comprising Edu Bedia, Jackichand Singh and Hugo Boumous. Even Miguel Fernandez, who came off the bench, scored twice for Mumbai in ten minutes.

FC Goa have also been economical at the back, conceding just three goals this season. 

FC Pune City have failed to get going this term, and, as a result, stand at the bottom of the points table, having earned just a point from their opening three matches. Despite boasting the star forward duo of Emiliano Alfaro and Marcelo Pereira, Pune have had trouble scoring goals, and have just scored once in three matches. For Pune's season to get back on traack, the duo will have to be back firing on all cylinderes.

The story of Pune's defence hasn't been any better either and they have conceded six goals from their opening three matches. 

 

MANAGERS SPEAK: Pune have scored just the one goal in the three games so far which makes for difficult reading for a team which had one of the best attacking records last season.

"We do have strikers who can be contenders for the Golden Boot or top assists in this league. It's just a matter of them finding form and us giving them the supply line so that they can score more goals," said Pune City interim coach Pradyum Reddy.

"It's not an easy task to pick up the boys in this kind of a situation but one of the things we did is to look at the video from last December when we came here.

"We looked at the highlights of that game - the way we defended as a team and the way we attacked as a team. Although we won the game 2-0, we probably had chances to probably win by three or four goals in that game. That gives us a little bit of a boost," he claimed.

But coach Sergio Lobera is not getting ahead of himself. He expects a tough game from Pune City who will be looking to get off the bottom of the table.

"I sincerely don't think that we are favourites. If you are not going to be 100 per cent, you're not going to win the game tomorrow," he stated.

The Spanish coach is also not reading too much into the table where Pune City are lowly-placed.

"I don't think the table reflects the potential that Pune have as a team. They are a great team and I'm pretty sure they will be fighting for the title. Tomorrow's game is a tough one," he said.

 

HEAD-TO-HEAD: FC Goa and FC Pune City have faced each other eight times with each team winning three matches apiece while the rest two ended in draws.

FORM: Pune have scored just one goal in their opening three matches despite having 14 shots on target. Their passing accuracy is 64.81 per cent. On the other hand, FC Goa have found the back of the net 10 times this season from 15 shots on target. They also boast an impressive passing accuracy of 76.34 per cent.  

PROBABLE 11s:

FC GOA: Mohammad Nawaz (G), Chinglensana Singh, Mourtada Fall, Seriton Fernandes, Mandar Rao Dessai (C), Hugo Boumous, Ahmed Jahouh, Lenny Rodrigues, Edu Bedia, Jackichand Singh, Ferran Corominas

FC PUNE CITY: Vishal Kaith (GK), Matt Mills, Sahil Panwar, Jonathan Vila, Sarthak Golui, Adil Khan, Nikhil Poojari, Martin Diaz, Ashique Kuruniyan, Emiliano Alfaro (C), Marcelo Pereira