I-League Media Team

PUNE: It was an exciting contest but hosts Pune FC were unlucky to go down fighting to Kolkata giant East Bengal 2-3 during the Round 16 match in the Hero I-League football championship at the Balewadi Sports Complex Stadium on Saturday.

Ranti Martins (19th), Harmanjot Khabra (48th) and Dudu Omagbemi (55th) struck for the visitors while Mathew Gonsalves (38th) and Darko Nikac (65th) scored for the Red Lizards.

East Bengal looked the dominant side as they enjoyed good command and impressed right from the word go. But it was mixed luck for the home team as they struggled with the proceedings.

East Bengal took an early lead when Ranti Martins scored the opener in the 19th minute giving his team the all important lead.

Leonidas Christos Bertos, who was on the left sent in a cross to Martins, who made no mistake as he volleyed the ball into the goal.

East Bengal’s Deepak Mandal got an opportunity in the 35th minute, but sadly the ball went wide and he could not make it in spite of the goal being open for a moment.

It was luck on the side of Red Lizards as they got lucky with an equaliser in the 38th minute. Mathew Gonsalves, who was on the right chased the ball and pumped it into the goal.

East Bengal custodian Abhijit Mondal seemed confused whether the ball will go outside or into the nets. Mondal tried to snap the goal in the process but the ball landed in the net.

In the second half East Bengal took the lead again when Harmanjot Singh Khabra smashed the ball into the goal when Pune FC defenders failed to clear the ball.

It seemed an easy task as he gave the visitors the edge as they started looking more dangerous. Just before things could settle down, East Bengal made it 3-1 when Dudu Omagbemi, who was on the left and close to the goal chipped in the ball into the nets.

Ranti Martins looked dangerous in the 59th minute when he got a chance to increase the lead further. Ranti, who was in the danger area, took an attacking shot, which was brilliantly saved by Pune goalkeeper Amrinder Singh.

Just when things began looking good for the visitors, Pune FC pulled one back to make it 3-2. Darko Nikac intercepted Abhijit Mondals pass who had come running outside the box Darko simply tapped the ball into the nets sending the home crowd cheering.

With just one goal behind Pune FC seemed to be pumped up as they went all out to try find an equaliser.

Martins got a chance yet again in the 79th minute when he was on the right. He went past Amrinder and guided the ball towards the goal but it went wide off the side.

The win gave East Bengal to close in the gap with Pune FC. The Kolkatans now have 19 points and on No 5 poisition. Pune FC stay on at No 4 position with 20 points.