ISL: NorthEast United FC 0-0 FC Pune City - 5 talking points

NorthEast United FC were looking to return to the top four by defeating FC Pune City in their game earlier today. Pune on the other hand were looking to go to the top of the table. With plenty to play for, both the teams traded passes, kicks and the occasional foray into the opposition’s box in their attempts to try and score.While both the teams were evenly matched at the end of the game, coach Ricki Herbert of NorthEast United will be ruing the missed chances and the opportunities that his team had to kill off the game. Here are the five talking points of the game.

#1 FC Pune Citys inability to pass well

For a team near the top of the table in the ISL, Pune’s ability to pass the ball cleanly and finish its attacking moves is still something that needs work. While NorthEast United dominated proceedings, Pune made good runs on the counter. However, they lacked that cutting edge in attack.

This could be primarily due to the absence of the charismatic John Goossens and the fact that they were playing a lone striker up front. But that was no excuse for the passing to go all haywire, given that their midfield was still very strong. Israil Gurung’s solo runs lacked the final ball, which found neither the feet of Dudu or Kostas. Added to that was the fact that their lone striker Dudu had to defend deep and then run forward into the NorthEast box with no support whatsoever.

Had the passing being better, there could have been a whole new result awaiting the third placed Pune team.

#2 NorthEast United FC\'s finishing let them down

If Pune were bad with their passing, NorthEast’s finishing let them down. For some reason, the likes of Koke, Len, Alen and Keene were unable to find the back of the net. Call it good defending on the part of the visitors or genuine inefficiency on the part of the home team, they just couldn’t see the game through in the manner which they would have wanted to.

Koke made brilliant runs into the Pune box, only to be thwarted at times by the defending in numbers from the Pune side or by very weak finishes by him or the team. Whatever be the case, NorthEast United, who had dominated the game completely, were just unable to finish it off.

#3 Punes 4-1-4-1 formation

For some reason any other formation outside the standard 4-4-2 just doesn’t seem to work for Pune. Trying the new formation today, Pune just failed to make any inroads in the NorthEast United defence. Even though they did have shots on goal, the fact that Dudu was running tirelessly up front with very little support from the mid-fielders showed why the formation did not click for them.

And even though Israil Gurung had mentioned after Pune’s previous home game that he was working on his abilities to finish off his brilliant solo runs, it just didn’t happen today. The fact that they were playing at a higher altitude too could have compounded the problem towards the end of the game. Pune should perhaps continue with their compact 4-4-2 formation as it has shown to yield results for them.

#4 Pune\'s defense was impressive; Pennant not so much

Understandably it was his first game in the ISL but Jermaine Pennant looked far too confused playing on the left of mid-field. It will take a few days and perhaps a couple more games for him to find his pace. Coach Franco Colomba needs to understand the importance of his star players firing at their earliest, and will look to maximize their impact going forward.

On the other hand, Pune’s Indian-Italian defensive duo once again worked very well. Pritam, Cirillo, Magliocchetti and Ravanan worked hard to close down the gaps and spaces that were available to the NorthEast United players. Ravanan was very impressive throughout the game and very nearly had his moment of glory when in the 92nd minute his header from Kostas’ free kick went agonisingly close to the NorthEast goal.

#5 Goalkeepers from both the sides played their part

In their previous encounter between the two teams, NorthEast United’s custodian TP Rehenesh was adjudged the Hero of the Match for the sheer number of attempts from the Pune forwards that he thwarted.

While today he didn’t quite win the Hero of the Match (the award going to Kostas Katsouranis from FC Pune City), he was involved in the game with a couple of handy saves that he made during the course of the match. His counterpart in the other goal, Arindam had a busy evening, having to make saves right till the death from the NorthEast United forwards.

On the whole had it not been for the tireless work of the two keepers, a different score line and result was very much on the cards for the game.