Pune FC will be keen to move up in the table when they face Salgaocar FC in a crucial I-League Round-24 encounter at the Shree Shiv Chhattrapati Sports Complex here Friday.
Pune FC have only four matches remaining in the season and the only positive is that they play three of these at home, including Friday's game against the No.2 placed Goan outfit.
Pune have 31 points from 20 matches and are tied with two other teams in what seems to be one of the closest I-League campaigns. There are six teams in with a chance to win the title and four of them have only three matches remaining.
A win Friday will be crucial for Pune FC as three full points will help them climb up to the No.2 position again. Salgaocar, coached by former Pune FC coach Derrick Pereira, also have 34 points, but will be playing their 22nd game.
The last time both sides met in November, they ended up playing a 1-1 draw, but Pune FC was awarded a 3-0 win due to the Goan side fielding ineligible players.
Over the years both sides have met eleven times with Pune FC boasting seven wins compared to Salgaocar's three. However, in Pune the Goans have logged two wins compared to the Pune FC's sole victory.
