Nay Pyi Taw eliminate Pune

Pune FC and Nay Pyi Taw FC shared six goals (3-3) in an AFC Cup Group-H Round-5 encounter at the Paung Laung Stadium in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on Tuesday. With the third draw and lying fourth in the table with just three points, Pune's campaign came to an end in the tournament.

Substitute striker Thongkhoseim Haokip put Pune FC ahead in the first-half before striker Aung Naing equalised for the hosts three minutes before the break. Arata Izumi yet again took Pune in front before Nyien Tazar Win and Khaing Htoo scored to put Nay Pyi Taw in the lead. However, defender Calum Angus struck in the 80th minute to level the scoreline.

Despite creating maximum chances, Pune fell short of attaining their first-ever win on the continental stage. Their misery aggravated when skipper Douhou Pierre missed a penalty in the second-half.

Pune Coach Mike Snoei made five changes in the team handing starts to Arup Debnath, Gurjinder Kumar, Arata Izumi, Prakash Thorat and Mirjan Pavlovic. But they also suffered an early set back when striker Pavlovic limped off after Obadin Gabriel's heavy tackle on him in the 10th minute.

As the hosts pushed up and started creating chances, Pune goalkeeper Arup pulled of a string of saves. First, he acrobatically tipped over striker Carlos Delgado's shot from the left and then denied Zaw Lin from close range. But his heroics went in vain as the hosts took the lead before Calum's equaliser in the end.