Amidst the controversial exit of their assistant coach Oscar Bruzon and missing key players on Friday, Mumbai City FC were held by FC Pune City to a disappointing goalless stalemate at DY Patil Stadium on the day.
The home side enjoyed better possession and had the two best chances but couldn’t score in the absence of Sunil Chhetri and Sony Norde to remain sixth with 12 points. FC Pune remain second with 15 points.
Like Chhetri, Haitian players Norde and skipper Franz Bertin have also left for national duty. Both teams missed key players in their first match-up also as Pune were minus Eugeneson Lyngdoh while Jakichand Singh made an appearance in last 12 minutes.
With two strikers not available Anelka had to make just his second start of the season while FC Pune City marquee player Adrian Mutu also had a rare start.
Both teams started cautiously and relied on midfield play in the first 25 minutes. The home side got a first chance when Subash Singh got a straight ball from goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharja who tried to make a clearance under pressure only to find Singh close by, but the angle was too narrow for him.
After a dull first half, both the teams showed more urgency. Frederic Piquionne unleashed a powerful header on a Darren O’Dea cross but it was just wide.
Mutu’s ravaging strike in the 75th minute from the edge of the box was smartly staved off by Paul and then minutes later Kuttymani missed a sitter near the goalmouth after an assist from Piquionne to sum up the dull game.
Delhi face Kolkata in search of home win PTI adds, coming off back-to-back draws in their last two matches, Delhi Dynamos will look to win their third home game on the trot against Atletico de Kolkata on Saturday.
Delhi had the chance to top the league standings in their previous two matches but on both occasions they could only eke out a draw, and they will once again try to achieve that in front of a home crowd at Nehru Stadium.
With 14 points from eight matches, Delhi are third and a win on Saturday will put them on top.
Defending champions ATK have been inconsistent in the tournament, having won four matches and lost as many with one draw.
They are one place below Delhi at fourth in league standings.
After a string of three losses, ATK have won twice in their last three matches, including the one against Kerala Blasters away from home and that must have been some sort of a confidence in an otherwise patchy performance in their campaign so far.
