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NorthEast, Pune push for semis qualification in ISL clash (Preview)

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Guwahati: NorthEast United FC and FC Pune City will be still eyeing Indian Super League (ISL) semi-finals qualifications when they play against each other here on Wednesday despite being in discomforting positions.

Both NorthEast United and FC Pune City find themselves in a similar do-or-die situation of making it to the play-offs but both teams are keeping faith in their abilities.

NorthEast are placed fourth on the table with 17 points from 13 matches. With Atletico de Kolkata, FC Goa and Delhi Dynamos already qualifying for the semis, there is only a lone spot available for grabs. NorthEast have only one match in hand and will have to hope that other results go their way even if they win that match.

FC Pune City are in a slightly better position. They are sixth with 15 points but have two matches in hand. Win in the next two games will inch closer to the qualification for the last-four stage. But Pune have not won any of their six away matches played so far and are also winless in the last six matches.

“It’s true that we had a big possibility in the last game but we let it slip through our hands. But it is also true that we still have a possibility. It’s not impossible. You have got to keep going and concentrate on what’s coming up next,” NorthEast United coach Cesar Farias said during the pre-match media briefing here on Tuesday.

“We’ll fight till we have the slightest of chances to make it. These are big games and a win can make all the difference for us. It’s a big game and necessary (to win) for both teams. We will have to risk a lot of things,” said Farias.

Pune FC coach David Platt said his team is looking forward to the game and said they are only thinking about a win.

“Now we know where we are and what we need to do. It’s still in our own hands, we depend on our own results. It’s about looking forward to this game rather than looking back to the last one,” said Platt.

Pune City lost against Atletico de Kolkata 1-4 in the last match.

“It’s gone, nothing that we can do about it. When you concede so many goals, you cannot win games. It’s goals that change games,” said Platt.

Platt said midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh is suspended for the crucial clash while defender Gouramangi Singh is ruled out of the tournament with an injury.

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Sunil Gavaskar gives his opinion of GT allrounder Rahul Tewatia

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The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.

Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.

Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”

Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.

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