Gutsy PIFA Colaba succumb to clinical Pune FC

by Kaushal Shukla December 27, 2015

PIFA Colaba went down 2-0 to Pune FC in the  Maharashtra Zone encounter of the U-15 Youth League after a valliant effort in the second half was undone by a clinical display from Pune FC who continued their dream run in the competition.

It was the visitors who started the game brightly, with some real cohesion in their play. Pune FC’s superiority meant PIFA were forced to play on the counter attack, a ploy which seemed to suit the hosts who staved off the early Pune FC dominance to grow into the game as the first half progressed.

But PIFA’s resurgence was dealt a body blow on the half hour mark when Ameya Talegaonkar scored a brilliant goal to put Pune FC in the lead.

The goal however didn’t seem to rock the home side as they stepped up their efforts to wipe off the deficit before the interval. But Pune FC were solid in defence and managed to contain PIFA to go into the break with a one goal lead.

PIFA came out all guns blazing in the second half and pushed Pune FC on the back foot. There were planty of chances for PIFA in that second half which they clearly dominated, but their misfiring strikers meant they passed up chance after chance as Pune FC stayed in the ascendancy.

The young Red Lizards started to find spaces in the PIFA back four as the hosts desperately seeked an equaliser in the final ten minutes and Pune eventually killed the game when a long ball saw Gulam Ansari race clear of the PIFA defence to slot past the PIFA goalkeeper to double Pune’s lead.

Pune FC’s quality and composure in front of goal proved to be the difference as Pune FC left Cooperage with all three points.

PIFA Colaba gave a good account of themselves in the second half and had Pune FC worried, but failed to produce that decisive moment to hurt the boys from Pune who remained at the top of the Maharashtra Zone table on goal difference ahead of Mumbai FC.