I-League: Khantang Paite double sinks Salgaocar

Margao: Substitute Khantang Paite scored twice as Pune FC got the better of Salgaocar by 2-0 and moved to fourth place in the 10th round of the I-League at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Sunday evening. After a barren first half when play was confined to midfield, Pune scored both the goals in the second half through Substitute Paite (64th, 78th).

The win takes Pune FC to 17 points from 10 matches and to fourth place while Salgaocar remained on six points from 10 matches. Both the teams matched evenly in the first half. Salgaocar who gained momentum as the match progressed with Dada Nabeel and Milagres Gonsalves combined well upfront but their final touch went astray as rival defence stood firm to deny them goals.

With Luciano Soborosa back in the side after injury, Salgaocar defence looked solid as they effectively polished dangerman James Moga. However, lapses in the latter part of the match saw them concede two goals. Pune FC who enjoyed more of the ball possession with Douhou Pierre doing most of the attacking and trying to find James Moga inside the rival goal but Salgaocar defence stood their ground and kept him quiet.

The win takes Pune FC to 17 points from 10 matches and to fourth place while Salgaocar remained on six points from 10 matches.

Pune FC who relied on counter moves came close to scoring couple of occasions but failed to make it. Both the teams were intent in the midfield battle in the second half and there were few goal bound moves. However, it was Pune FC who took the lead in the 64th minute when a move on the right saw James Moga getting the better of defender Augustine Fernandes and sent a goal mouth cross where substitute Khantang Paite flicked the ball into the net.

The goal spurred Pune FC into attacking mode and Salgaocar keeper Karanjit Singh made a good save off substitute Jeje off a cross from Khantang Paite in the 76th minute. Two minutes latter Khantang Paite was on target for the second time when he headed in a cross from the right by Tsewang who received the ball from Pierre to give his team a convincing win.

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