Atletico de Kolkata Aim to Clinch Indian Super League Playoff Berth Against FC Pune City
Atletico de Kolkata are in sublime form with back-to-back wins at home - against Chennaiyin FC and FC Goa - and are now one of the strong contenders to retain the Indian Super League title.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: November 26, 2015 03:42 PM IST
Defending champions and table-toppers Atletico de Kolkata will look to seal a last-four berth when they face a struggling FC Pune City in the Indian Super League football tournament on Friday. (FC Goa Hold NorthEast United FC to 1-1 Draw)
With three wins and a draw from last four matches, the Antonio Habas-coached side has bounced back in the business end of the tournament and are fresh from a morale boosting 4-0 win over heavyweights FC Goa to climb to the top of the table. (Mahendra Singh Dhoni Brings Luck to Chennaiyin FC vs Delhi Dynamos FC)
Atletico de Kolkata are in sublime form with back-to-back wins at home - against Chennaiyin FC and FC Goa - and are now one of the strong contenders to retain the title.
The Kolkata outfit, after a stupendous start to the tournament, slumped a bit in absence of Helder Postiga but have got into the act with the troika of Jaime Gavilan, Sameehg Doutie and Iain Hume combining superbly up front.
While Portuguese World Cupper Postiga is virtually ruled out of the tournament, Atletico de Kolkata do not seem to be too concerned as they look to become the first team to enter the playoffs by making it 23 points from 13 matches.
Pune, on the other hand, are yet to register a win from five matches including two losses and the sixth-placed side must bounce back to keep their hopes alive.
To make matters worse, the visitors are yet to win an away match this season and have scored just three goals away from home.
"We definitely like to have better away games but it's the way it is and can't deal with it now. The immediate focus is to do well against Kolkata and we're prepared for that," said coach David Platt on the eve of the match.
Pune suffered a 1-3 loss in Delhi in a match their right back Moirangthem Govin Singh was sent off after getting a second yellow card for a clumsy challenge in the box. Pune will also be without their central defender Gourmangi Singh, who has been ruled out with a ligament injury, while Sushant Mathew too will be missing in action.