FC Pune City edged NorthEast United FC 1 – 0 in Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday. Marcelinho bagged a late winner for the Stallions, even though the hosts arguably had the better chances.

It was the Highlanders who showed more intent, to begin with, and threatened first in the 10th minute. Seiminlen Doungel cut in from the right and tripped before he could pull the trigger. Danilo Lopes latched onto the loose ball, but his shot was inches wide of the target. Lopes was involved again nine minutes later, when his cross from the right found fellow Brazilian Marcinho. The latter could not quite connect with his free header as the ball fell into the grateful arms of custodian Vishal Kaith.

The hosts were then nearly punished for a lapse in the 23rd minute. Nirmal Chettri attempted to head the ball back to keeper TP Rehenesh, but his header lacked power, as it landed straight for the lurking Emiliano Alfaro. However, the Uruguayan’s poor first-time shot was off target.

On the half-hour mark, Doungel outfoxed a couple of defenders with his quick feet inside the box, but his attempted pass was palmed away by Kaith. That was the last chance of reckoning as the teams went into the break locked at 0 – 0.

The Stallions fashioned a chance seven minutes following the restart. Marcelinho’s free-kick from around 30-yards-out was on target, but Rehenesh did well to punch the ball away. A couple of minutes later, Doungel found Lalrindika Ralte with a cross from the right. The latter had enough time to collect the ball and take a shot, but with the entire net at his mercy, he surprisingly drilled his shot across the face of goal.

With a quarter of an hour left, Marcinho’s corner found defender Jose Goncalves, who got the header away, but it was directed straight at Kaith who held on.

Four minutes from time Pune took the lead against the run of play. Substitute Marko Stankovic played a lovely defence-splitting pass to Marcelinho and the Brazilian took a touch before hitting a powerful shot that Rehenesh could not keep out even after getting a hand to.

That was the last chance of the match as with the 1 – 0 success, the Stallions climbed to the second spot in the league standings, while NorthEast remained rooted at ninth.

MATCH AWARDS

Club Award: FC Pune City

Swift Moment of the Match: Marcelinho

DHL Winning Pass of the Match: Marko Stankovic

Amul Fittest Player: Marcinho

Emerging Player: Seiminlen Doungel

Hero of the Match: Adil Khan

Watch the match highlights here: