ISL 2014 as it happened: Late Goosens goal gives Pune City 1-0 win over NorthEast

For live scores and updates, CLICK HERE . Pune: FC Pune City coach Franco Colomba may have claimed that his team has a ‘slight advantage’ since they’re playing at home, but they’re up against a team which is unbeaten in two games on the road — one of the vital reasons why they’re sitting just three points off the top of the table in the Indian Super League. NorthEast have won, drawn and lost a game in Guwahati, but a win in Mumbai and a draw in Delhi has kept them within touching distance of table toppers Atletico de Kolkata. “You can’t say home advantage would count in the ISL this year as much as it would in the coming seasons. But the truth is that we’re enjoying playing on the road. We were in Mumbai, then went back to Delhi and flew back to Pune. After this we leave for Chennai and from there back to Guwahati — it’s hectic but it’s the nature of the tournament and we’ve done quite well so far,” NorthEast manager Ricki Herbert said. [caption id=“attachment_1785049” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  NorthEast United fans seen in the match in Delhi against the Dynamos. ISL[/caption] Herbert takes pride in the fact that his side have been good despite ‘missing four key players’ in recent matches — testimony to the fact that the New Zealander is making the most of his full roster. But it’s not just the team ethos that has made NorthEast do well. In Mumbai and Delhi, a section of NorthEast fans has been seen waving the team’s flags and drowning out home team voices too — and Herbert has noticed this brilliant away support. “To be honest, every place has felt like home to us and that spurs our performance. The fans have been great even at away games. It is a reflection of the area and a young side — two factors which have made people back us.” Herbert wouldn’t go on to say that his team had outdone themselves in terms of expectations — but he did say that his was a team which played ‘decent football’ in an unpredictable tournament. The team will most probably miss out on Isaac Chansa but the rest of the team seems to be fine for the Monday night fixture at Balewadi Stadium. FC Pune City are also not nursing any new injuries. Goalkeeper Emanuele Belardi did not train before the game but Colomba seems relaxed — in fact, playing Arindam Bhattacharya in goal may allow him to field another foreign player in outfield. “It’s possible you may see another foreign player in the starting XI, but for me, it’s all about equilibrium in the team — so don’t expect me to play a defensive or an attack-heavy team,” the former Napoli, Palermo and Bologna coach said. Mentality has been an issue for Pune — a team which has seemed to switch off after 70 minutes in their matches so far. But Colomba says one should expect a team with a stronger mentality on Monday: “The approach will be that of a team which has just lost, one which feels the need to win and one which has to get on the right path.”