Pune end campaign with goalless draw

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:51 am
FC Pune City enjoyed a rare clean sheet at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium
ISL


Atletico de Kolkata were guilty of missing too many chances, as they settled for a goalless draw against FC Pune City in their concluding group encounter at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium in Kolkata.


Kolkata were the dominant side from start to finish but the hosts could not translate their superiority into goals against the visitors, managed by their former head coach Antonio Habas. The draw meant Kolkata are placed third on the table with 20 points, and will play their crucial second-leg semifinal away from home.


Pune were already out of the reckoning for a place in semifinals and ended up with 16 points from 14 matches to finish sixth, only ahead of Chennaiyin FC and FC Goa. If there was any positive for Pune in the final league clash, it was that they managed to keep a clean slate for the first time after conceding goals for eight straight matches.


Much of that was because of some brave goalkeeping from Arindam Bhattacharya, who was preferred ahead of Edel Bete. Pune also escaped unharmed because Kolkata lacked sharpness in attack.


Spanish striker Juan Belencoso was guilty of missing at least four good chances as Kolkata dominated despite coach Jose Molina making a host of changes to his team in an attempt to keep players fresh for the semis.


It was Javi Lara who first tested Arindam with a long ranger which the goalkeeper managed to fist away and thereafter started the saga of missed Belencoso chances. The first came in the opening half when he sent his header wide from close range with only Arindam to beat.


Pune took 25 minutes for their first shot on goal and it came from marquee player Mohamed Sissoko, who tried his luck from just outside the box with a fierce grounder but goalkeeper Dani Mallo was well positioned.


In the second half, Belencoso missed two of the easiest opportunities for Kolkata. His first big miss was in the 52nd minute when Lara's cross from the left was deftly pushed towards goal by Bidyananda Singh from point-blank range and Belencoso failed to turn the ball home.


His second miss of the half was even worse in the 78th minute. Stephen Pearson got the ball from Lara on the edge of the box and he shot at goal which the keeper managed to punch out. However, the ball fell at the feet of Belencoso and the Spanish striker shockingly sent the ball wide.