TheSportsCampus

Pune FC fought their way back against Shillong Lajong FC and walked off with a 1-1 draw that had both teams lose their goalkeepers due to injury in an equal I-League Round-17 encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong on Saturday.

Playing to a near-packed stadium, Pune FC silenced the home side when they won a 72nd-minute penalty-kick which striker and skipper Keita Mandjou converted to wipe off the goal Seikhohau Tuboi (52nd) netted to send the fans delirious.

Having won a point from the encounter, Pune FC (28 points) moved up a place on the league table to 6th position and pushing Salgaocar SC down on better head to head record. Salgaocar, however, are yet to play the complete the current round.

The result meant that Pune FC remain unbeaten and stretched the match count to 11. But, in doing so Pune FC's euphoria was watered down when custodian Abhra Mondal was left with a broken shin and .

The unfortunate incident took place deep in the second half. With Lalnunmawia sending in a cross from the left, Sushil Kumar Singh headed high ahead of Gurjinder Kumar to provide a chance for the overlapping Eugeneson Lyngdoh who bulldozed in with an aggressive stance, connected the ball as Abhra came out but in Lyngdoh's follow-through impacted Abhra's shin as well. The impact was solid and left Abhra frantically call in for help, before he was whisked away to the hospital.

The incident came close on the heels of the home side losing their custodian Lalthuammawia Ralte. The injury was a freak incident when Ralte rushed out to counter a Karma Tsweang run and clashed into the Pune FC player.

Pune FC began with the home side dominating, before medio Douhou Pierre had a stiff try straight into the keeper to move the pressure off after John Menyongar shot was blocked by Anas Edathodika closely after Lyngdoh's try went over from inside the box.

Keita then went close to an Othallo Tabia cross from the right but in the bargain was pulled up for a foul for body contact.

Thereafter, Abhra came up with two excellent collections. First, by getting ahead of Matthew Mayora after Lyngdoh almost found him with a good pass and then went on to blocked a Boithang Haokip run.

Midway into the half, the homeside had Mayora get into physical play going for player than ball knocking down Gurjinder Kumar head as a stand out incident that deserved a card, but was let off by the referee.

Pune FC who worked hard with Keita and Subash Singh working overtime and Karma pushing the right scared the rivals when Gurjinder Kumar's header came off the bar from an indirectly taken corner pushed in by Shanmugam Venkatesh.

Changing ends, Pune FC came out strongly when Subash almost connected a Othallo cross with the custodian out only to be denied at the last minute by a defender.

Against the run of play, Pune FC went into arrears. Lallawmzuala's cross from the right had Tuboi sneakily get a shoulder touch ahead Abhra who came out to collect at the far post. Tuboi quickness thereafter helped as he slipped the ball in a flash.

Down by a goal, Pune FC off a free-kick had Douhou make the goalkeeper fumble but kept the ball in control ahead of Keita and Subash.

Karma then had the best opportunity, when he cut past a defender got a clear look of the goal and released only to have the keeper keep the ball out with a fantastic save. Thereafter, Pune FC went into an attacking phase with Karma and Subash penetrating constantly from the right.

Pune FC's hard work paid off when Othallo played the ball into the box. As Lalllawmzuala tracked the ball with Keita in the background, the rival player tripped about the same time the ball bounced on to his hand leading to a penalty-kick.

Keita did well to slot it to the right to bring pin drop silence among the fans.

The two goalkeeper incidents thereafter toned down proceedings and deep into the six minutes of added time Keita let go a right footer into the side of the net.