Durand Cup: Pune FC face Vasco SC for semis berth

Buoyed by their 3-0 win over Churchill Brothers, Pune FC will face Vasco SC in the final Group-IV Durand Cup quarterfinal league encounter at the Raia Sports Complex here Tuesday.

A win will not only send Pune into the semifinal only for the second time after 2011 but also will help the team to register its best ever group-stage performance of collecting four points which they managed in 2010 and 2011.

Pune are leading the group with three points, ahead of second-placed Vasco and Churchill, who have one points each. The game between the two Goan sides ended 1-1 Sunday. The result means that Pune need just a draw to seal its place in semi-finals.

"I have made it clear to the team that we cannot play for a draw, we have to play our normal game and win the match. It will help us build our confidence for the next round," coach Karim Bencherifa said after a training session at the Benaulim Football Ground.

Pune will miss two players - goalkeeper Amrinder Singh, who serves a one game suspension and striker Thongkhosiem Haokip, who suffered a minor injury in the previous game.

In first choice custodian Amrinder's absence, coach Bencherifa will have to choose between Arup Debnath and Moniruzzaman Ansari.

On the other hand, Vasco come into the game after a 1-1 draw in their first game with a chance to qualify for the penultimate stage.