Pune FC face Sporting Goa in Durand Cup semi-final

Pune FC will face an in-form Sporting Clube de Goa for a place in the title clash of the 127th Durand Cup at the Raia Sports Complex here Thursday.

Both teams come into the semi-final clash on the back of consecutive wins and will battle hard to enter final.

Having qualified for the semi-finals after three years with their best ever group stage performance, Pune will hope to go one better this time.

"We have a few minor injuries and yellow cards to deal with. But we believe in our abilities, and I think we have enough strength in our team to go all the way," coach Karim Bencherifa said.

Sporting, who had a long rest after the last game, come into the semis on the back of two solid performances and will be banking heavily on former Pune striker Boima Karpeh (three goals) and his partner in attack Anthony Wolfe (two goals).

They have contributed five out of Sporting's seven goals in two group games and will provide a challenge for the Pune defense that includes Luciano Sabrosa and Salam Ranjan Singh.

However, Pune will be confident going into the game being the only side to not concede a goal in the group stage and would like to maintain the record.

Goalkeeper Amrinder Singh returns from suspension but leftback Raju Yumnam will miss out after receiving two yellow cards in the group stage.