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ISL: FC Pune City beat Atletico de Kolkata 1-0, claim top spot

Winger Jackichand Singh scored the fastest goal of the Indian Super League (ISL) second season to help home side FC Pune City beat defending champions Atletico de Kolkata 1-0 at the Balewadi Sports Complex here on Saturday.

Coming into the match after <g data-gr-id="27">defeat</g> at the hands of Delhi Dynamos FC, Jackichand’s <g data-gr-id="28">second minute</g> strike steered Pune to their third victory of the season, which also saw them climb to the top of the points table with nine points from four games.

On the other hand, with their first loss of the season, the visitors dropped one place to <g data-gr-id="24">second</g> position with seven points from four games.

It was a first start in the league for India’s midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh, and his compatriot Jackichand also found his place in the starting XI after returning from national duty.

Adrian Mutu, the Romanian marquee player for the home side, remained on the bench.

Pune’s English coach David Platt went in with a 4-4-2 formation for the crucial clash and it worked pretty well for the home side as they eventually halted Atletico’s stunning run this season.

The Antonio Lopez Habas-coached Kolkata went in with a 4-2-3-1 formation.

It was the away team that got proceeding underway, but it turned in favour of the home side in just the second minute. Lyngdoh cross-field punt took a deflection off Kolkata’s Ofentse Nato allowing Jackichand to get to the ball first, in the box.

The winger lashed a brilliant drive into the opposite side of <g data-gr-id="25">goal</g>, and the team got off to a dream start.

Pune was rocked in the 36th minute by the withdrawal of Lenny Rodrigues and in his place came Bikash Jairu for his ISL debut. 
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