Mumbai FC looking for Derby Day respite against in-form Pune FC

by Kaushal Shukla February 1, 2015

Mumbai FC are on the road again, but this time a lot closer to home as they have local pride at stake when they take on Pune FC at the Shree Shiv Chatrapati Sports Complex Stadium in Balewadi, Pune, in the season’s first Maharashtra derby.

The two sides come into this game completely opposite fortunes as the hosts are buoyed after recent victories away to Champions Bengaluru FC and the recent thrashing of Shillong Lajong in midweek, a team which got the better of the Mumbai side when they played hosts in Shillong.

Mumbai FC haven’t been as bad as the results suggest, but will certainly have to be much better when they take on a rampant Pune FC side on Sunday evening.

Pune FC have no injury worries and have a completely fit squad available. Mumbai FC too will be hoping to have similar sort of liberty when it comes to their squad.

Mumbai FC will be buoyed by the fact that they beat Pune FC in the corresponding fixture last season and hence a keenly contested contest can be expected tomorrow as like every Maharashtra Derby.

Historically too, there has been very little to choose between the two sides and the two giants of Maharashtra have faced each other eleven times with Pune FC having an edge with four wins to Mumbai FC’s three, while the two sides couldn’t be separated on the remaining four occasions.

Thongkhosiem Haokip who currently leads the goal scoring charts in the I-League along with Darko Nikac will pose a threat for Mumbai FC, while the visitors will heavily rely on strikers Josimar Da Silva and Mohammed Rafi.

Mumbai FC will be keen to get their first points of the season at a place which was their home for the last season, while Pune FC will be looking to entertain their fans as they did in the match against Shillong Lajong.
The match kicks off at 7.00 PM IST on Sunday and will be telecast LIVE on Ten Action.