Dudu double sinks Mumbai City

Pune, December 3

FC Pune City rode on Dudu Omagbemi's double strike to record a convincing 2-0 win over Mumbai City in the Hero Indian Super League here today. The result virtually knocks the visitors out of semifinal reckoning while keeping the home side in contention.

Dudu rose to the occasion with two second half goals (66th and 80th minutes) to send Franco Colomba's men soaring up to the fourth spot.

The match could have gone the other way had Tiago Ribeiro converted a penalty in the 51st minute for the visitors. The only downside for the victors was the expulsion of their head coach for entering the pitch in celebration of his side's goals.

It was a frantic start to a very entertaining first period. The home side was off the blocks almost immediately with the Nigerian striker testing Subrata Paul from distance.

The India No 1 keeper was up to the task, however, as he thwarted a wave of Pune attacks. Pune really should have taken the lead through Dudu again but Paul stood firm once more.

In the second session, Pune looked like the only team who showed up. Mumbai made a half-time change bringing in Subhash Singh for Sushil Kumar. But that did not make a difference to the home side as they continued to push forward.

The home side finally got the reward for their persistence in the 66th minute when Dudu, who was lying injured on the pitch moments before, collected a cross on his chest and volleyed it past an impressive Paul.

Pune got the second goal in the 80th minute when Park put a low cross into the box, where Dudu back-heeled it past Paul. — PTI