AIFF Media Team

BANGALORE: League leaders Bengaluru FC entertain Pune FC in a potentially season-defining match at the KSFA Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday (March 28, 2014).

Playing their fourth consecutive away game, a win will be vital for third placed Pune FC (30 pts) to keep their title hopes alive while Bengalru FC will be looking to maintain their good home run and lead at the top of the heap.

After a disappointing 2-3 loss to Churchill Brothers in the previous round, Pune FC will be optimistic while aspiring for a positive result as they enter a hectic schedule playing eight matches at home, away and overseas in the next thirty days.

While for Bengaluru FC, they will be banking heavily on captain and striker Sunil Chhetri along with Sean Rooney, his partner up front. The India-international is currently the league’s top scorer with 13 goals and the Australian attacker has chipped in with eight more.

Together, the duo has scored 21 out of Bengaluru FC’s 34 league goals so far and will pose a challenge for the Pune FC backline led by Calum Angus.

Going into the game, Pune FC will be missing services of a number of key players. While first choice keeper Amrinder Singh (red-card in previous game) and talismanic defender Anas Edathodika (four yellow cards) will be serving their respective one match suspension, medio Dhanpal Ganesh is out with an injury.

However, Pune FC will be boosted by the return of influential defender Angus. The Englishman returns to the squad after missing the previous game due to personal reasons and will provide stability at the back.

Joining him in the squad will be experienced left back Nicolau Borges and back up ‘keeper Shahinlal Meloly.

The hosts too will be missing services of their first choice keeper Pawan Kumar who was sent off along with Kenyan-born defender Curtis Osano against Lajong.

The only encounter in the past between the two sides was played in Pune in November. Back then, the game ended in favour of Pune FC who will be hoping for a similar result this time around.

Speaking at the pre-match Press Conference ahead of the game, Snoei said, "We are excited to play. It's going to be nice game between two teams who want to play football. Bengaluru FC, like us, always likes to play football. There are very few teams in this league who like to play like that."

Snoei further added, "Bengaluru FC have an impressive home record and crowds fill the stadium and that does make you feel strong. Like Bengaluru, we too are a new club that is trying to bring the youth to the stadiums.”

Bengaluru and Pune are coming into the game having suffered defeats away from home and Westwood said his side’s 3-0 defeat to Shillong Lajong was a bad day at office.

“To be fair we have won away from home too and are on track for a good away record. As for tomorrow’s game, we have always enjoyed playing at home and our fans have been wonderful. They have helped us and we would to believe we too have given them reason to be happy about,” said Westwood.

(Picture Courtesy: Bengaluru FC Media Team)