TFM Exclusive Match Report - Talking points by ISL Pundit Henry Menezes

FC Pune City vs North East United – Talking Points by ISL Pundit Henry Menezes

The influence of 15% stake holders Serie A side Fiorentina in the FC Pune City game has become an evident trademark with a typical Italian defensive mentality. 

The day saw the Home side start exactly the way they had started all their previous games – on the back foot and playing deep in their own half. The strategy works well when you have a fast paced forward line for quick counter attacks. However, Pune City lacked this on the day and the visitors North East United quickly took advantage of this and played an attacking game.

First Half:

The first half saw wave after wave of attack from the visitors and goalkeeper Arindam was busy between the posts. Pune city however, were holding defense firm and did not show any signs of conceding. North East United had all their shots on goal in the first half itself and Koke controlled the midfield for the visitors, keeping good ball possession.

No doubt the visitors won a lot of free-kicks, but none of them were taken well enough to trouble the Pune defense. The home team, unable to get the ball far ahead, tried their luck from long range and Lenny among others got a few good shots on goal, but were just routine saves for Rehenesh in the visitors goal. The first half was goalless but not short of excitement.

Talking points of the Half:

Pune City went into the match with six changes. They played a very deep line but were attacking from the word go.

Trezeguet was playing alone upfield and the team was unable to link him into play.

Koke, Adinga and Robin played strong attacking football from the left wing for North East United

Second Half:

The second half saw a new Pune team come out, playing a high pressing game, keeping good possession, playing more attacking and winning back the ball very quickly. Lenny and Gurung played good crosses into the box and only the finishing lacked. The Pune wingers stretched Khongjee and Robin, the North East wing backs and created spaces in the middle. 

Two good substitutions bringing on Dudu and Ravanan further changed the game because of the high work rate football shown by the Home side. North East were forced to sit back and tried to play on the counter, but were losing the ball easily in the middle of the field. 

FC Pune city had to wait till the 87th min to see that madness which was created by Dudu who struck the cross piece and the quick thinking header by Goosens on the rebound sealed the match for Colombas team. The match finished at 1-0 but the scoreline was modest for the end to end exciting football seen on the day.

Talking points of the Half:

Pune played a more pressing game which kept their focus more on attack and involved the frontline.

The Pune midfield and forwards were combining well through a strategy of stretching play from the wings. It takes courage to replace a Marquee player who is considered a goal machine and is fit to play 90 mins. But Colomba's Gamble paid off. Trezeguet who scored in the previous match was replaced by Nigerian striker Dudu.

North East failed to capitalize on counter attacks and seemed lacking in the second half. Rehneesh the NEUtd's young goalkeeper had a great match under the bar bringing off some brilliant saves and kept the hope for NEUtd' to steal a point but the courageous Colamba the FC Pune City  coach took a gamble with a dual substitution which paid off.

About Henry Menezes

Henry Menezes is the CEO of the Western India Football Association (WIFA) and also a member of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) technical committee. 

He is currently Commentator, Match analyst and Pundit for the Indian Super League. The Football Mind team thanks him for his expert analysis provided through this article.

You can follow Henry Menezes on Twitter @menezeshenry