Dilmperis rues loss in concentration in 2-2 draw against Mohammedan SC

Punjab FC head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis believes a lapse in concentration led to a 2-2 draw against Mohammedan SC in their last league stage match of the ongoing Indian Super League 2024-25 at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata on Monday.

The Shers got off to a promising start as Ezequiel Vidal scored early in the ninth minute. The visitors were able to double their lead as Luka Majcen scored in the 53rd minute.

But the home team bounced back as Marc Schmerbock and Robi Hansda scored to equalize for their side. 

“I think that we lost our concentration because of the kind of game this was. When we were creating a lot of chances, my players believed that the game was done. We lost concentration, especially in the defensive part, so the opponents managed in two situations to score two goals. I think this is the reason,” he said during the post-match press conference.

The gaffer said they should look to improve their defensive skills for the next season of the ISL.

“When you see the statistics of this season’s champions and the statistics that we have, you can easily see that we are the best team in recoveries and interceptions. We are the team that has the fewest balls in our box. So it’s obvious that we have to develop our defending abilities with the experience that is going to come to the players because we also have young players, and we have to start scoring goals and bringing the ball with more quality into the box,” the head coach said.

The head coach said they played well in the first half but lost their focus in the last 45 minutes.

“Because, in the first half, the team was quite dominant in that area. And in the second half, we lost our concentration. We believed that the game was done. Before the second goal, Mohammedan SC couldn’t create anything. So it looked like we believed that we could win the game easily.”

Punjab FC ended the ISL 2024-25 season in eighth place with eight wins, four draws, 12 losses, and a total of 28 points.