A Ashique Kuruniyan hat-trick enabled Pune FC U-21 to demolish Salgaocar FC U-21 by a resounding 4-1 margin in the All India Bandodkar Gold Trophy Football Tournament Group A match played at Duler Stadium on Friday.

With today’s win Pune FC tops the group with seven points, while Salgaocar stays on four points. The teams were locked in a 1-1 draw at the breather with Naro Hari Shrestha (31′) scoring for Salgaocar, while Bhunthalun Samte (35′) equalized for Pune FC.

In the 10th minute of play Pune’s Ashique Kuruniyan got hold to a loose ball inside the penalty box and drilled a power-packed right footer which was acrobatically paired off for a corner by Salgaocar custodian Rohan Sheikh to the relief of his teammates.

At the other end Naro Hari Shrestha was well positioned just outside the penalty box, sent a superb placement to the far corner of the goal to find the Pune keeper flung to his left to push the ball for a corner.

An excellent combined effort from the Green Brigade saw them take the lead. Medio Jason Barbosa managed to squeeze the ball past the Pune defender to Myron Borges who sent a defense splitting pass to overlapping Naro Hari Shrestha whose shot brushed keeper Anuj Kumar hands before it landed into the goal – 1-0.

It did not take long for Pune to net the equalizer, where in the 35th minute Ashique Kuruniyan sent a deadly cross to the far post to Bhunthalun Samte who slammed it home past the helpless looking Salgoacar keeper to make it 1-1.

Pune FC were a transformed unit on crossing over and came with a series of raids on the rival citadel.

In the 48th minute Balkar Singh connected his shot at the goal off a corner from Bhunthalun Samthe which was fisted for another corner by the Salgaocar keeper.

Pune exerted tremendous pressure but Salgaocar keeper Rohan came twice to his team’s rescue to save a 30-yard free kick from Mohd Yasir and then fisting a long ranger from Sahil Panwar. In the very next minute a hot blooded shot from close range by Sajid Hossain was blocked by defender Daniel Gomes.

After much probing finally in the 56th minute, the Salgaocar citadel collapsed when a stinging strike from Ashique Kuruniyan had no answer from the Salgaocar keeper.

The Green brigade squandered a golden opportunity for the equalizer in the 70th minute, where Liston Colaco won the ball from the midfield and after beating the defender dribbled past the onrushing keeper Anuj Kumar but with an open goal in front of him saw his placement travel out to the dismay of his teammates and supporters.

Pune’s almost netted their insurance goal in the 77th minute, when Ashique Kuruniyan picked a pass from Sebastian Thangmuansang and drilled a shot at the goal which was blocked by Salgaocar keeper Rohan.

In the last five minutes of the match Salgaocar had two chances to level terms, but Domnic Soares tap off a cross from Harmanjot Singh hit defender Ashish Rai, while Klins Mendes long ranger was headed away for a corner by Muirang Wungngayam.

In the injury time Pune’s Ashique Kuruniyan netted two brilliant goals with his individual brilliancy in the 91st and 94th minute, to round off the score tally to 4-1.

Man of the match award of Rs. 5000/- was received by Ashique Kuruniyan of Pune FC.

Tomorrow’s fixtures:
Sporting Clube de Goa vs DSK at Duler Stadium and Dempo SC vs Snows Football Academy Raia at 16.15 IST.

(Report & Photo courtesy Goa Football Association)