FC Pune City beat Jamshedpur FC 2-1 at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium in Pune on Wednesday. The visitors went in front in the opening period through a Wellington Priori goal but two quickfire strikes in the second half, shortly after the hour-mark, by Gurtej Singh and Emiliano Alfaro ensured maximum points for Ranko Popovic’s men.

Both sides began positively but the first opportunity of the encounter went Jamshedpur’s way after Farukh Choudhary went for goal from an acute angle. The Stallions’ goalkeeper Vishal Kaith though made the save to deny them.

Pune had the next chance of the match in the 13th minute after Adil Khan found himself unmarked at the far post. His shot on goal, however, was volleyed into the stands. That being said, when the deadlock was finally broken, it was the visitors who made their chance count after a lapse by the Pune custodian.

Priori was played through on goal and he did well to hold off Pune defender Sahil Panwar, who crashed into the Stallions’ out-rushing goalkeeper Kaith to make life easy for Priori. Needless to say, Priori made no mistake as he slotted in effortlessly to give his side the lead.

Izu Azuka went close to extending their lead after a Trindade Goncalves cross. The Nigerian frontman’s back heel that was directed at goal though missed by fractions to the relief of the hosts. The last effort of the half went Pune’s way after Marcelinho found Alfaro with the Jamshedpur goalkeeper trying to neutralize Pune’s attack by rushing out of goal. The Uruguayan striker got his attempt away, which was blocked heroically by Yumnam Raju, who was between Pune and the goal to ensure the visitors kept their 1-0 lead intact at the break.

It took Pune 17 minutes into the second period to score their equaliser, thanks to a delightful ball by Marcelinho, which found the head of Gurtej, who headed into the ground and over the goalkeeper to make it 1-1 on the night.

The Stallions went on to take the lead in the 66th minute and it was their talisman Marcelinho who provided the assist once again. This time, the Brazilian cut back from the right to tee up Alfaro, who executed a clinical finish past the goalkeeper to make it 2-1 for Pune.

Jamshedpur nearly netted a leveller in the 71st minute after Priori was denied by the goalkeeper with the rebound falling for Sameehg Doutie, whose effort on goal in a congested area was deflected off target by the hosts. Adil then went on to make a stunning goal-line clearance towards the end of the clash to claim three points as the Maharashtra-outfit climbed to the summit of the Hero ISL 2017-18 points table.

MATCH AWARDS

Club Award: FC Pune City

Swift Moment of the Match: Adil Khan

DHL Winning Pass of the Match: Marcelinho

Amul Fittest Player: Wellington Priori

Emerging Player: Farukh Choudhary

Hero of the Match: Emiliano Alfaro

Watch the match highlights here: