By Pune FC Media

PUNE: Pune FC opened their campaign in the Under-15 Youth League handing local rivals DSK Shivajians a 7-0 thrashing at the Pune FC Training Pitches in Mamurdi on Sunday.

The big win was powered by a hattrick from striker Ishan Dey (36^th, 43^rd & 63^rd minute) along with goals from Cladeo Nongpluh (11^th), Gulam Ansari (12^th), Mozaffar Ali (48^th) and Firoz Shah (51^st) as a total of five Pune FC players got on the scoresheet.

With this win in the first round, Pune FC went top of the Maharashtra Zone with 3 points ahead of Mumbai FC on goal difference.

Pune FC began the better of both sides, and after some half chances in the opening exchanges, they took the lead in the 11^th minute. Striker Cladeo capitalised on a poor clearance and smashed home a powerful left footer from just outside the box past the helpless Shivajians’ custodian.

Pune FC doubled their lead a minute later when winger Shreepad Dogre sent Gulam clear in the rival box. The lanky attacker kept his calm and finished over an advanced keeper to make it 2-0.

Striker Ishan Dey then got on the scoresheet striking twice in the final quarter. First, the youngster tapped home from close in the 36^th minute after Gulam’s shot was saved by the keeper, before producing a beauty smashing home a volley from 25-yards out in the 43^rd minute.

Meanwhile, rivals Shivajians failed to trouble the Pune FC backline much as the home side took their 4-0 lead into the breather.

It took just three minutes for Pune FC to increase their lead after restart. Shreepad Dogre curled in a great cross which wasn’t properly cleared and fell for Mozaffar inside the box. The medio controlled the ball and smashed home the half volley for Pune FC’s fifth.

Minutes later, substitute Firoz, on for Gulam Ansari, made it 6-0 the lead scoring with his first touch thanks to some clever work by Ishan.

Pune FC continued to dominate proceedings and increased their lead further to 7 goals when Ishan completed his hattrick in the 63^rd minute. Right-back Aryan Thite cut in from the flank and sent a brilliant through ball to Ishan who made no mistake in controlling and slotting it home from inside the box.

The home side continued to dominate proceedings and had numerous chances to increase their lead further in the final quarter only for some poor finishing in the final third as the game ended 7-0.