Bengaluru FC return empty-handed

Pune: The disappointment on FC Pune City skipper Marcelinho’s face when he was substituted in added on time after 90 minutes said a lot about the first leg of the ISL semi-final against Bengaluru FC here on Wednesday with the game ending 0-0 after the hosts had dominated the game.

The hosts launched a quick flurry of attacks in the opening minutes. Ranko Popovic’s utility man Adil Khan started off as right back to keep the Sunil Chhetri threat at bay and it worked for him.

On a rare free moment, Chhetri curled one in off his right foot to bring out the best of Pune City goalkeeper Vishal Kaith. Apart from this, Pune’s Ashique Kuruniyan came close thrice from the right wing but it remained goalless at half time.

The hosts asserted themselves in the second half as Ashique and Emiliano Alfaro had their chances but the BFC defence stood strong to deny them.

It never looked like Pune City were competing in a semi-final for the first time. In the midfield Marko Stankovic created an impact with his tackles and accurate distribution.

BFC manager Albert Roca tried to spice things up by bringing on the Udanta Singh. Popovic did the same by getting on super-sub Jonathan Lucca to break the deadlock but nothing worked.