U15 Youth League: Pune FC face arch rivals Mumbai FC in a thrilling top-of-the-table clash

This Maharashtra Zone Round-5 clash between in-form teams in the zone will provide enough entertainment given the fact that the league’s most effective attack of Pune FC will face off against the league’s most resolute defense of Mumbai FC.

For the record, leaders Pune FC (12 pts, GD +20) have netted 21 goals so far, the most among sixteen teams across all zones in the country, and are ahead of second placed Mumbai FC (12 pts, GD +10) who are yet to concede a goal having kept four successive clean sheets.

Speaking ahead of the game, Pune FC Coach Mohan Dass said, “It will be a tough clash. We have been working hard throughout the past week and know that Mumbai FC are a strong team. They have put on a great show till now so we need to be cautious in our approach.”

Both teams come into this game on the back of four successive wins thus making it a crucial one as they will be eager to maintain and build on their individual records. However, Pune FC Coach Mohan Dass wants his team to be at their best and focus just on the game at hand.

“We are at the halfway point in the zonal phase and it is important to get a positive result going into the second stage. However, we are focussed on the task at hand and want to give our best. We have been taking it one game at a time and will continue to do so,” added Coach Mohan Dass.

On the team news front, Pune FC will be missing the services of key defender Hendry Antonay who is at the India Under-15 camp in Goa. However, they have been boosted by the availability of goalkeeper Deepak Saravanan who is back after serving a one game suspension.

The match at Cooperage will be played under floodlights and kicks off at 6.30 PM IST.