Pune FC’s dreams of extending their history-making run ended with a 0-2 loss to defending champions Prayag United (formerly Chirag United) in a late evening 124th Durand Cup semifinal at the Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi.

Prayag United scored once in each half, the first through Lukram James Singh (29th minute) and Joshimar Martins (81st minute). The loss was Pune FC’s second to Prayag United SC in the six encounters they have played in the Elite Division.

Pune FC retained the same squad that played the last game against Air-India, which meant resting all doubts of left-wing back Kamaljeet Singh’s pre-match doubts of not taking the field owing to a niggle.

Getting into attack mode right from the start, Pune FC forced a corner-kick in the 4th minute, but could not force anything off it. Likewise, Prayag pushed forward through Joshimar Martins and Yusif Yakubu and kept the Pune FC defence busy. The former gave Pune FC early jitters failing to connect a Gouranga Biswas cross from the left wing.

With the game settling into a mid-field battle, the one odd attack on either side saw Pune FC’s Douhou Pierre push forward to the corner and send his cross to Maninder Singh, who failed to direct home allowing the defence to clear. At the other end, Pune FC ‘keeper Shahinlal Meloly fisted out Yakubu’s header off a counterattack that resulted in a corner-kick and subsequently the opportunity for the Kolkata side to go one-up on the half hour mark.

Prayag United, with the corner, had Lukram James Singh well directed in-swing effort enter the net after Shahinlal missed the flight owing to Yakubu’s leap ahead of him.

Stung by the reverse, Pune FC had rival defender Bello Razzaq keep out striker Subash Singh’s advances, before PFC defender Chika Wali lost the ball to Joshimar and set-up Yakubu in the clear. However, the latter’s chip went over the bar. At the half-way stage, Pune FC trailed 0-1.

On resumption, as Pune FC chased for the equalizer, goal-scorer Lukram James Singh was replaced by right-winger Shylo Malsawmtluanga and following that Joshimar received a yellow card.

Left-winger Maninder lifted hopes of a comeback when he cut past three defenders and took a long ranger, but the stiff effort soared over the crosspiece at the last moment.

The introduction of Malsawmtluanga on the wing caused the Pune FC defence to be alert. And in one situation medio Maninder did well to keep out a cross.

Pune FC, then, introduced Paresh Shivalkar in place of striker Subash and minutes later had striker Jeh Williamson get on in place of Karma Tsewang to have fresh legs get them through the last 11 minutes of the game.

Jeh was in the thick of action quick. A Lester Fernandez free kick had the young striker’s header not go through as desired.

Prayag, likewise, brought in Kayne Vincent for Yakubu and it made a difference. Joshimar receiving the Vincent’ first touch - a square pass on top of the box - put the ball home with a low angled left footer for a 2-0 advantage.

Pune FC had a glorious opportunity to pull one back when Shivalkar failed to latch on to the blunder of goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal and instead saw defender Aranb Mondal clear.

In the three minutes of added time, Denson Devdas managed to find the Pune FC net, but the referee canceled it owing to a foul.