Goa : Pune FC will look to ending the 2014-15 season on a high when they take on Sporting Clube de Goa in their last I-League encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on today evening.
The final round clash will be season defining for both. While fifth placed Pune FC (29 points) go into the game with a chance of a top-3 finish, hosts and eighth-placed Sporting Goa (20) will be hoping to avoid relegation, thus making the game a must-win for either side.
However, with four matches being played simultaneously around the country, a lot of factors will come into play when the final standings will be decided and three points will be crucial at the end of the day.
For Pune FC, a positive result and East Bengal (4th, 29 points) dropping points against Shillong Lajong in Shillong will see them rise up to third place. Furthermore, having logged back-to-back away wins against East Bengal and Shillong Lajong in the previous two games, Pune FC will hope to carry forward the momentum.
“This is an important game for us. Sporting is fighting relegation and we need a win to finish in better position. It won’t be easy but the boys are well prepared. We hope for a good game to end the season on a high,” Pune FC assistant coach Gift Raikhan said on Friday.
“We come into the game after back-to-back important away wins. But we need to stay grounded and not lose focus against a strong Sporting side.”
The game will be the third time both sides face off this season after meeting in the Durand Cup semifinals (and in the I-League, Pune will aim to build on their unbeaten run.
