[1]As Chirag United Kerala takes on Pune FC at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune on Tuesday, we can expect a thriller. When these sides met at the same venue last time, it was a cracker of a match and certainly one of the best in I-League history.
Pune had hosted Chirag, then Viva Kerala, at the celebrated ground on February 26 this year. It was the venue for former Premier League champions Blackburn Rovers’ friendly against the home side.
The visitors had returned three goals in the second half to stage a dramatic comeback and draw at 4-4.
It was P. K. Anilkumar who starred in that stellar show by Chirag, but as he no longer plays for the Kerala side his heroics will be dearly missed. Anilkumar’s brace in that match deceiving India’s best goalkeeper Subrata Pal was the highlight of the previous derby.
However, this year former Chirag goalie Shahinlal Meloly will guard the Pune goal against his opposite number and close friend K. Sharath. Ironically, Shahinlal was in Chirag’s starting XI in the February match and was replaced with Sharath in the second half.
“It will be a great match, I went to meet them last night, it was fun being with old friends,” said Shahinlal ahead of Tuesday’s game.
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