Preview: FC Goa vs. Mumbai City FC

by FC Admin November 17, 2015

Top of the table for over a week, Zico’s men are looking to set the pace in the run to book their semi-finals berth in the Indian Super League (ISL).

Panaji, 16 November 2015: FC Goa had a break of eight days in between their fixtures before they play hosts to Mumbai City FC at the PJN stadium in Fatorda, Margao-Goa, on Tuesday evening. The match will kickoff at 7 PM IST.

The Goan side have been in the top half of the standings throughout the second edition of the Indian Super League (ISL) and are currently occupying the number spot, but it is not the time to relax as per the team’s head coach Zico.

“We did well despite all the injuries and we are very happy with that. We are on the right track but it is not the time to relax. All the teams are playing very well. So we have to keep our focus and reach our target,” the Brazilian legend assessed the season so far.

The Gaurs currently have 15 points from nine matches, the same as FC Pune City who also have a similar goal difference while also tied on points with third placed Delhi Dynamos FC. Regarding the same, Zico commented, “Goal difference can be a factor. I always tell my players that we should qualify by points so that we don’t depend on goal difference and all.”

Luciano Sobrosa, Rafael Coelho Luiz, Bikramjit Singh, Pronay Halder, Keenan Almeida, Luis Barreto and Joaquim Abranches make up the home team’s injury list while Reinaldo da Cruz Oliveira, Victorino Fernandes and Jofre Mateu Gonzalez are available for the tie.

Meanwhile, Mumbai City FC are not in the best of forms, having earned just two points in their last three matches which was succeeded by a three-match winning streak.

The Mumbai outfit beat the table toppers 2-0 in the first leg with Sunil Chhetri and Frederic Piquionne finding the back of the net but still see themselves outside the top four, although not far behind as observed by head coach Nicolas Anelka.

“If you look at the table, we (Mumbai City FC) are not far (from the top). One win and we are on top. We will see and speak at the end,” observed the Frenchmen with his side having 12 points from nine matches.

Without a single away win for the second year, Anelka replied, “We try our best on the pitch every time we play away. Hopefully we can change that tomorrow (Tuesday).”

“It’s a must win game for everybody. It’s very tight. Nobody knows what will happen in the next few games. It’s a must win game for us, it’s a must win game for Goa also,” he added.

Goan boy Brandon Fernandes has been ruled out of the tournament and the visitors will be missing Sony Norde while Chhetri is expected to return to boost his side’s confidence.