ISL: Pune maintain top spot with 1-1 draw against Goa

League leaders FC Pune City maintained their top spot after playing out a 1-1 draw with hosts FC Goa in an Indian Super League (ISL) match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Friday.

Pune improved to 13 points from seven matches, one more than second-placed Delhi Dynamos who have played a game less. The stalemate also benefited Goa who claimed the third place in the points table with 11 points from seven games, overtaking Mumbai City FC (10 points from six matches).

But despite the points, Goa head coach Zico would view the match as two points lost rather than a point won as they were clearly the dominant side, particularly in the first half when they should have scored. The home team created the first real chance of the match in the 10th minute when Brazilian striker Leo Moura slipped in a smart through pass for Thongkhosiem Haokip.

The home-grown forward managed to evade the challenges of a defender and the onrushing goalkeeper with a feeble shot that was valiantly kept from crossing the goal line by a back-pedalling Roger Johnson.

But it was just a precursor to more intense attacking from Goa as they intensified the pressure. They were swift and utilised the flanks commendably to create chances but failed to take them. Joaquim Abranches, one of the three frontmen employed by Zico, managed to escape the offside trap to be one-on-one with the goalkeeper but placed his shot wide.