Sporting pitched against Pune FC

Margao: With three of their main stay defenders not playing, Sporting Clube de Goa remains calm as they gear up to battle it out against Pune FC tomorrow in the 18th round of the I-League, to be played at the Nehru Stadium.

Sporting Clube de Goa started their second leg well remaining unbeaten with three wins and a draw to place themselves to the eighth place with 24 points from 17 matches. They are looking to keep the momentum going. They are hit hard by the referee in last match against Prayag United which saw them their reliable defender Keita Boubacar and Jovel Martins being suspended. With N Samananda also not able to play due to fever, their defense is weakened which has upset the team and Technical Director Alex Alvares is putting a brave fight tomorrow for a win against Pune FC. "It’s our home match and we need to win to move up the ladder. The absence of the three defenders will be felt but our boys have geared up to face the challenge. The team has settled well in the second leg winning three of the four matches and will continue to perform well," stated Alvares. Pune FC also have been performing well to remain unbeaten in the last five matches, are one place above Sporting with 28 points from 17 matches. They will be without their keeper Abhra Mondal and striker Jeje Lalpakhlua otherwise rest of the team is same. Pune FC coach Derrick Pereira is happy the way his boys are playing. "Our team looks settled and playing well to remain unbeaten in the last five matches which we have played.” They have all geared up for tomorrow`s match and looking to make a dent into the rival`s defense where they will be missing three of their regular players. Hopefully we win tomorrow which we help us to move further, stated Pereira. PTI