Pune City defeated ATK for the second time this season, winning 3-0 at the Balewadi stadium here on Saturday. The defending champion were at the receiving end of a 4-1 scoreline earlier at home, outsmarted by Marcelino that night.
Pune celebrated the emergence of new match-winners in Adil Khan, Diego Carlos and Rohit Kumar after its comfortable victory.
The hosts’ spirited effort to take the lead finally paid off in the 32nd minute after in-form striker Emiliano Alfaro had missed from close. Marcelino, captain and ace goal-getter, sent a long ball into the goalmouth and Adil appeared from nowhere to nod home his fourth goal of the season.
Marcelino and Alfaro, a pair of deadly strikers, were content to allow better placed teammates grab the limelight. Diego Carlos seized the moment to raise the Brazilians’ profile in the competition. He controlled the ball on the left of the box, left the defenders stranded with step-overs, and shot to the corner of the goal. ATK goalkeeper Debjit Majumdar found the angle too far to cover.
Cheered on by vocal home fans, Pune was busy from the start, thwarting the ATK raids with confidence and swiftly launching counter-attacks down the flanks. Alfaro picked up a pass from the centre-circle, drifted into space and faced with a defender approaching, turned and shot at goal. The ball, however, soared above Debjit’s head and into the stands.
The experienced ATK custodian was kept busy, first by Alfaro diving to connect with his head to a floater from the left flank dipping near the right post. The Uruguayan mistimed his charge, the glancing header bouncing wide. The visitors’ goalkeeper was in no position to block the next header as Adil powered the ball home and waved to coach Ranko Popovic, serving a four-match suspension and watching the match from the stands.
Jolted by the 32nd-minute reverse, ATK turned on the heat. However, Vishal Kaith, egged on by fans shouting his name after holding on to a Zequinha shot with confidence, kept an eagle eye and cleared a long-range attempt by Ryan Taylor.
Connor Thomas’ attempt to squeeze the ball through a crowd of legs was foiled by Jewel Shaikh off the goalline.
ATK chief coach Terry Sheringham introduced Robin Singh in the second half to add muscle to the misfiring forwardline. Vladica Grujic, standing in for Popovic, allowed new FCPC signing Marko Sankovic to get a feel of the turf. He replaced skipper Marcelino.
The result: FC Pune City 3 (Adil Khan 32, Diego Carlos 59, Rohit Kumar 77) bt ATK 0.
