Pune FC got off to a perfect New Year start by registering a comeback 2-1 win over Mohun Bagan and log their first-ever victory over the Kolkata giants in an I-League Round-13 encounter at the Balewadi Sports Complex, on Tuesday.

The win was huge for Pune FC as it stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches, which matched the best achieved by Dempo SC in the first seven rounds. Pune FC's victory in this Round-13 encounter was spurred by a goal in each half by Jeje Lalpekhlua (36th minute) and Lester Fernandez (56th) after the visitors went ahead through Odafa Okolie in the 22nd minute of play.

In logging their sixth win of the season, Pune FC swelled their points tally to 22 points and retained fifth place on the table after the conclusion of the first leg of matches. The hosts began playing Mandjou Keita upfront with Douhou Pierre in support apart from making a change in the defence (Anas Edathodika coming in for Gurjinder Kumar) and the mid-field wherein Baldeep Singh started which meant striker Jeje sat out.

Pune FC lived dangerously initially. They approached the game cautiously and in the bargain Bagan settled and pushed the pace into Pune FC's half. In the early minutes, Pune FC 'keeper Abhra Mondol did well to stretch and deny a Hudson Lima free kick at the first post from 22-yards out.As Pune FC settled it was Bagan who went one up against the run of play. Medio Jewel Raja Shaikh moved up and squared the ball to Odafa. The Bagan striker controlled and let go a firmly driven right-footed grounder that beat a diving Abhra who seemed advanced in position, which opened the gap.

Pune FC mis-passed constantly leading to an early change and an off colour Shanmugam Venkatesh made way for Jeje in a bid to add sting into the attack that fizzled in the final third. The substitution earned result instantaneously with Jeje glancing a header home past a static keeper Sangram Mukherjee with his first touch after Lester Fernandez did well to beat a defender on the left and then float the ball in.

Changing ends, Pune FC came out stronger and created chances aplenty. Two minutes into the game N.P Pradeep brought down Lester on the top of the box which led to Douhou doing well with his effort. Beating the Bagan wall, Douhou agonizingly saw the keeper tip over at the last moment. Pune FC playing with confidence took the lead through a determined run by Keita on the right who played a perfect cross across to lester who made no mistake with his head across the keeper.

Up 2-1, Pune FC went all out. Karma Tsweang missed a sitter after Keita put him in the clear in the box, then Keita shot wide from 8-yards after bulldozing past defender Anwar. Towards the end of the second session Keita once again went close shooting into the keeper after getting in the clear. With the game entering injury time a free-kick conceded by Anas Edathodika who fouled Odafa 25-yards out seemed hope for Bagan's last ditch effort to equalize. But Anas made up with a block that denied Odafa, who otherwise was kept in check by the Pune FC defence.

LIVE# MATCH COMMENTARY - SH. MITRA

03.01.2012 : Pune FC   2 - 1   Mohun Bagan (Pune - FT)
PFC : (Jeje 36', Lester 57')
MMB: Odafa 22'

MMB : Sangram, Pradeep, Kingshuk, Anwar, Nabi, Gouranga, Masih, Jewel, Lima, Odafa, Ashim

PUN : Abhra, Caitano, Chika, Anas, Lestor, Venkatesh (Jeje 35'), Baldeep, Karma, Keita, Douhou, Srikant
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Full Time Pune FC comes from behind to secure a win against Mohun Bagan in 2-1
90+4: Anas body blocks a Odafa free kick
90+3:Referee shown yellow card to Anas and Hudson
90: Keita goes close. His shoots into the keeper after getting better off the defender..
89: Keita earns a corner. Defender clears it from corner
87: Jeje earns a freekick outside the box
85: Players Change in PFC: Gurjinder in; Lester out
84: Players Change in MMB: Snehashish in; Rakesh out
82: Keita heads over.Tabia crosses in from the right.. Keita uses height to advantage to direct over
80: Mohun Bagan trying to hold on to the ball as they try and create a good goal-scoring opportunity.
79: Players Change in PFC: Tabia in; Karma out
77: Lester crosses from left.. Keita chest traps but a bit slow from 12 yards out...
76: Karma loses the ball inside the box again..
74: Karma goes into the box, but loses the ball easily
72: Rare chance for Odafa but he cant control the ball
70: Score remains still same. Pune FC 2-1 Mohun Bagan
69:Two close misses in a span by Pune in 5 mins
67: Keita misses from 8 yards out.beats Anwar.His shot went wide
65: Karma misses a sitter after Keita sends him clear on the right On the counter at the other end PFC survive after Hudson's shot rattles the post
63: Another cracking effort by Lima but yet again the ball hits the post
61: Keita slides the ball to Jeje... who passes to Lester on the left... whose shot goes straight to the keeper
58: Players Change in MMB: Souvik in; Gouranga out
57: Score is now Pune FC 2-1 Mohun Bagan
57: Keita crosses in from the right to Lester inside the box... who heads in from a tight angle.
57: GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Lester Fernandez made it 2-1
55: Score remains still same. Pune FC 1-1 Mohun Bagan
54: Costa goes down to a hard takle from Gouranga
50: Pune FC look a much settled team in the second half.
47: Pradeep brings down Lester on the of the box... Douhou screams the free kick over the wall but Sangram tips it over
46: Second Half Resumes - Pune FC Kick Off
HALF TIME: Mohun Bagan 1-1 Pune FC
45+2: Another mistake by Sangram. Lester shot, Sangram fails to gather the ball, comes out of his hand, but comes out of charge and clears the ball.
45+2: Karma cross, Anwar clears the ball by header.
45+1: Nabi to Hudson, long ball towards Odafa, Chika heads the ball back to Abhra.
2 minutes injury time.
44: Rakesh Masih lying injured.
44: Odafa tries to get past Chika, but dispossessed in left flank.
42: Hudson Lima free kick from left flank, ball cleared.
41: Baldeep long ranger goes out.
40: Pune attack, cleared by Rakesh, Kingshuk shot deflects of Jeje, throw in to MMB.
39: Lester shot goes way over.
38: Free kick to Pune FC.
36: Lester's cross from left, Jeje heads the ball inside goal, Sangram is to be blamed for this goal as he should have reacted quickly. It was a good header from Jeje.
36: GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL, Jeje scores.
35: Venkatesh out Jeje in.
35: Pune FC corner, Kingshuk clears.
35: Keita makes a good attack, good blocking by Kingshuk, Keita shot goes out deflecting off Anwar.
34: Jewel and Ashim shot, both blocked by Pune defence.
33: Jewel pass to unmarked Odafa, but he is offside.
32: Baldeep cross, Kingshuk header, ball cleared.
31: Abhra long goal kick, went to Douhou via Keita's back header inside MB box, but very good covering by Anwar.
30: Anwar wrong pass, could have been dangerous, but Lester also gives miss pass, ball cleared.
29: Nabi goes past 3 players, long pass towards Odafa, cleared.
28: Venkatesh to Keita, offside.
27: Brilliant tackle by Rakesh in front of Mohun Bagan box.
26: Lima free kick, ball cleared, comes to Gouranga whose shot from edge of the box was way out of target, went towards corner flag.
25: Pradip to Gouranga, poor trapping, but manage to snatch the ball back, but he is fouled by Costa. Free kick to Mohun Bagan.
24: Odafa fouled, goes out in stretcher.
22: Odafa got the ball in midfield, pass to Jewel, pass back to Odafa. With 3 defenders with him, he had very little space but his shot had such power that Abhra had no chance though he had dived in correct direction.
22: GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL, Odafa scores.
21: Pune attack, Venkatesh offside in left flank.
20: Corner, Rakesh clears, ball comes to Chika Wali whose right footed shot goes over crossbar.
19: 1st corner to Pune FC as Anwar clears the ball out.
18: Short corner, very poor cross by Jewel, ball cleared.
18: Ashim pass towards Odafa, Keita clears for corner.
17: Keita pass to Karma but push Nabi, free kick to Mohun Bagan inside their own box.
16: Pune attack, nice clearance by Anwar to Pradip, long clearance.
15: Lima free kick meant for Nabi, but just goes over his head.
14: Good run by Gouranga, but pushed just outside Pune box. Free kick to Mohun Bagan.
14: Ashim header towards Odafa, good chest trap, but ball goes out of his reach.
14: Pass towards Ashim, ball goes out.
13: Nabi fouled by Keita.
11: Rakesh through pass, goes out.
10: Pune attack, good snatching by Hudson, Jewel fouled.
9: Hudson to Odafa back to Hudson, cross, cleared.
8: Hudson cross, appeals for penalty, not given, again cross, straight to Abhra.
7: Rakesh to Odafa to Ashim, back to Odafa, ball cleared.
6: Jewel header from corner over crossbar.
6: Corner to Mohun Bagan.
6: Gouranga poor trapping, ball goes out.
5: Pune attack, Kingshuk clears.
4: Costa clears for Pune.
4: Pune attack, Pradip snatch the ball, runs, throw in to Mohun Bagan.
3: Hudson Lima brilliant free kick, Abhra makes a stunning save diving to his left.
3: Free kick to Mohun Bagan outside Pune box, Odafa brought down.
1: Match starts.

0': Head to Head : 4 matches.. where Mohun Bagan won 1 and othger 3 matches drawn.
0': Match is going to be started. In first ever encounter between the two Mohun Bagan won 3-1 in away match where Chidi Edeh scored hattrick for Bagan.

I-LEAGUE : Prayag United stun Dempo SC 2-1. 03.01.2012 : .KFC... | www.kolkatafootball.com HOME PAGE