Pune: Pune FC went down fighting to East Bengal 1-2 in an I-League Round 18 encounter at the Balewadi sports complex here on Friday. Chidi Edeh gave the visitors the lead in the sixth minute before Arata Izumi equalised for Pune FC. A 75th minute penalty-kick conversion from Chidi gave East Bengal the win.
Pune FC stay fourth with 30 points from 16 games while East Bengal move up to second place with 36 points from 18 games. Nigerian striker Chidi opened scoring in the six minutes into the game after he got the ball on the right and placed it past Pune FC 'keeper Abhra Mondal.
Six minutes later, Arata equalised for the home side with a brilliant finish on the half-volley. Striker James Moga set up Arata with a header and the midfielder sent the ball past a helpless keeper Abhijit Mondal to send the crowd into a frenzy.
The rest of the half produced no close chances and both the teams went into the break tied at 1-1.
Eight minutes after the restart, Moga missed a close chance to put Pune FC in the lead. Arata sent Subash Singh on a run on the left and the striker slid the ball to Moga at the far post. However, the South-Sudanese striker's attempt was blocked by the defense.
Minutes later, Arata's shot from close range on Douhou Pierre's cross hit the side netting. Midway through the half, Moga's header came off the vertical after he did well to connect Othallo Tabia's cross in from the right.
At the other end, East Bengal were awarded a penalty after Subash brought down Chidi which was heavily protested by the home side who claimed that the rival striker went down cheaply. Chidi then stepped up and converted the spotkick to give East Bengal the lead.
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