ISL 2018-19: Marcelinho bags brace to help FC Pune City edge past Chennaiyin FC in feisty encounter

FC Pune City rode on Marcelinho’s double strike to beat a struggling Chennaiyin FC 2-1 in an Indian Super League match at the Nehru Stadium on Saturday, to boost their chances of qualifying for the play-offs. Pune City are in seventh position on the points table with 14 from 13 game while defending champion Chennaiyin are last with five points from 14 games following a 11th defeat this season. [caption id=“attachment_4332935” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of FC Pune City player Marcelinho. ISL[/caption] After a goalless first half, the hosts went ahead in the 55th minute as new signing CK Vineeth scored only to see Pune City hit back with two quick strikes. The game came alive for a period of five minutes which saw three goals being scored. The second half began just like the first one and after the initial 10 minutes looked like the game was going to go goalless till the end but a deflected shot landed fortunately at the feet of Vineeth, who slotted the ball home easily to help his team take the lead. The advantage though did not last long as Marcelinho’s shot at goal was not completely saved and the ball crept inside the goal. And a minute later, it became even worse for the hosts as the Pune City star doubled his and his team’s goal tally for the night. Anirudh Thapa had replaced Andrea Orlandi for the hosts and new manager Phil Brown made three changes from the last time FC Pune City played, a 2-0 win over Goa on 11 December 2018. Sahil Panwar, Marko Stankovic and Deigo Carlos found a place in the starting XI.