After a four-game unbeaten run, Pune City came into their clash against Chennaiyin high on confidence. However, despite responding quickly to going behind, ultimately the Pune team suffered a 3-1 defeat which dropped them out of the top four in the standings.Head coach Franco Colomba was quick to credit Pune’s opponents on the night for their performance. Sitting alongside hometown boy Dharmaraj Ravanan, who grew up a few hours outside of Chennai, the Pune City gaffer Colomba heaped praise on Chennayin at the post-match press conference. “They look very strong and it was very difficult for us to comeback against an attacking side, the moment we conceded the goal.”Although Pune City scored minutes after going behind, they immediately handed momentum back to Chennaiyin, with the hosts going back in front straight from the restart after Pune City’s goal. Bruno Pelissari drove at a lax Pune City defence, and perhaps still celebrating their equaliser, the defence did not close the Brazilian down as he got closer to the Pune box. His shot took a deflection off of defender Bruno Cirillo and left keeper Arindam Bhattacharya helpless. “A goal changes the game and I am angry with the goal that we conceded from kickoff,” fumed Colomba.” We should have maintained the concentration and I have to ensure we work on this aspect in the future games.”Commenting on the result and what Pune had to do going forward, the gaffer said, “we must take this experience and learn from the mistakes we made and try to avoid them in the upcoming games.”Greek World Cupper Kostas Katsouranis has been one of the star players for Pune City, but the midfielder had a subdued game against Chennaiyin. Colomba was not too worried about the slight dip in form, however. “He played both the previous matches very well, but with games coming thick and fast and injuries being rampant, it is not possible to play continuously,” quipped the coach. It was a sort of homecoming for the local lad playing in Pune colours, Ravanan. The Tamil Nadu-born defender felt that it was a loss in concentration which ultimately led to the loss. “It was a tough match. In the first half we had good contro,l but the second half we lost our concentration and conceded the second goal from a deflection” reflected Ravanan. He also praised opposing winger John Stiven Mendoza, who caused problems for Pune’s defence throughout the game. “Mendoza had an amazing game. It was tough to keep track of a fantastic player like him.”
