David Platt has high regard for Israil Gurung’s confidence in completing a given task. The wiry Indian repaid his coach’s faith with two assists — Turkey midfielder Tuncay Sanli scoring on both occasions with snap headers — and curled in the third goal as FC Pune City walked away 3-1 victor’s in its Indian Super League home game against Mumbai City FC.
Gurung showed great positioning and floated into free space on the right flank. Twice the ball was relayed to him by teammates who waited for the next move. The tireless Pune midfielder kept his balance for pinpoint crosses to centre with his right foot and capped it by netting the third with a looping floater into the net.
Mumbai handed youngster Albino Gomes a debut as first-choice goalkeeper behind a four-man defence marshalled by captain Franz Bertin and Pavel Cmovcs. Nicolas Anelka’s faith in local players Ashutosh Mehta and Keegan Pereira to man the backline was risky, as Sanli demonstrated with his headers against a tentative back four, advancing too far towards the centreline.
The first goal came off a burst by Lenny Rodrigues to the centreline, switching sideways to Nicky Shorey who in turn found Gurung. Sanli sneaked in from the blind side of a defender as Gurung switched the point of attack with a floater across the goalmouth for the pony-tailed Turkish linkman to nod home.
French striker Frederic pulled Mumbai back into the game with an easy header off a cross from Mehta into the goalmouth with no Pune defender in sight.
Platt’s decision to play six midfielders and no forward did not work in the face of Mumbai’s pressing tactics and confidence on the ball, moving from defence into offensive postures, favouring the right flank. Romanian Adrian Mutu waited for his turn on the Pune bench.
Yenrick Ruiz’s entry as specialist striker, in place of midfielder James Bailey, was an early indicator of a change in Pune’s tactics. Mumbai’s central defenders Cmovcs and Bertin kept an eye on the Costa Rican substitute, who had a role in Pune’s second goal.
Pune captain Zakora combined with Lenny to send Gurung loping down the right flank with no challenger in sight. He floated the ball high across the goal. Ruiz missed a header at the first post, followed by a defender. Sanli followed up, twisting his body into position and heading home powerfully. He then made way for marquee player Mutu.
French World Cupper Anelka brought himself on in the 75th minute, Tunisian international Selim Benachor joined the attack later, but in a crowd of foreigners representing different nationalities, a hard-running Indian walked away with honours.
Gurung hobbled with cramps towards the close, happy to have done his bit as a burst of fireworks marked the home team’s victory at the Balewadi stadium.
The result:
FC Pune City 3 (Tuncay Sanli 12, 56, Israil Gurung 68) bt Mumbai City FC 1 (Frederic Piquionne 34).
