GUWAHATI, Nov 15 � Host team North East United Football Club (NEUFC) should blame themselves for not earning full points against FC Pune City in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) here on Saturday evening at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium Sarusajai as they settled for a goalless draw.
It was a mediocre battle which was mostly dominated by the home team and can be termed as a fight between the NEUFC frontliners and FC Pune defenders.
Pune attackers � Nigerian MacPherlin Dudu and English midfielder Jermaine Pennant � showed some courage for the visiting team but they were restricted from doing any damage by the local team defenders.
The first session was distinctly dominated by the locals with some positive efforts But in previous outings NE miserably failed to strike. Despite making several advances, their frontliners were not on target.
The first scoring opportunity was created by the host team in the 15th minute when Alen Deori made headway down the left flank and passed to Brazilian midfielder Guilherme Felipe e Castro who beautifully centred the ball for Seimeinlen Doungel, But the Indian forward failed to read it and spoilt a possible scoring opportunity.
Pune City�s Italian midfielder Davide Colomba tested NEUFC custodian Rehenesh Thumbirumbu Paramba with a full-blooded drive from top of the box but Khongjee managed to punch it away. That was the first positive approach from the visitor�s side.
English James Keene and Koke caused constant threat to the Pune defenders with some deadly combination in the first session. In the 27th minute, Koke set the ball for Zambian midfielder Kondwani Mtonga but he failed to keep his cool and pushed wide from close range.
Daniele Magliocchetti of Italy put up a great fight in the 36th minute but the local team defenders managed to tackle it in cost of a flag kick. Pune�s Greek midfielder Kostas Katsouranis was booked in the 31st minute for a foul on Koke.
Alen came close of scoring in the 55th minute but failed to push home from inside the box. The local team created another scoring opportunity in the 65th minute when Seimeinlen Doungel could not beat Pune�s Indian custodian Arindam Bhattacharya in a point blank situation.
The best chance was spoilt by Spanish Sergio Contreras Pardo (Koke) in the 82nd minute as he failed to hit the target despite finding the opponent goalkeeper alone.
After this drawn match, Pune gathered 12 points (third position) from eight matches while the NEUFC has collected 10 points fifth position.
