U-18 I-League: Kenkre FC vs Mumbai FC Preview

by Kaushal Shukla December 5, 2015

Kenkre FC entertain Mumbai FC at Cooperage in the Maharashtra zone encounter of the U-18 I-League later today. Kenkre FC will be looking for revenge against Mumbai FC who defeated them earlier in the campaign, which till date remains Mumbai’s only win in the competition.

Kenkre FC however are just one point behind Mumbai FC in the Maharashtra zone standings which doesn’t make great reading for either teams, but both teams will be looking to take a step in the right direction to change that. Kenkre FC were highly clinical in their only win against PIFA Sports in this competition and will be looking for a repeat of that performance today against a Mumbai FC side which has shown a bit of fight in their last game when they went down fighting to DSK Shivajians at Cooperage few days ago.

The 1-0 loss was a big improvement for Mumbai FC after they had shipped in twenty two goals in the two games against the two Pune based clubs. Kenkre FC too wentt down 4-0 to Pune FC in their last game, but it was a much improved performance from Kenkre FC in that game and that will give Akhil Kothari’s men hope today.

Kenkre FC will target the fragile Mumbai FC defence and try to get in front in the game. Mumbai FC are likely to be without their Head Coach Alex Ambrose who was away with Mumbai City FC in Kolkata yesterday. Mumbai FC’s improvement was a lot down to his return to the touchline and Kenkre will be hoping to profit from Ambrose’ absence in the Mumbai FC dugout.

Kenkre FC will look fondly at their head to head record Mumbai FC in this competition having beaten Mumbai FC twice while losing only one game. That one defeat however came earlier in the campaign when Mumbai FC ran out 2-0 winners in a tight encounter. But Kenkre FC will be looking to reproduce what they did last season against Mumbai FC when they scored a double over the men in yellow without conceding a single goal against them.

It promises to be a cracking encounter between the two Mumbai based clubs as they battle it out for the third place in the group.

Players to watch out for

Martin D’Assisi (Mumbai FC) – It is strange to have a top performer in defence when your team has shipped twenty three goals in the competition, but it could have been a lot more had it not been for this brilliant center back from the Mumbai FC side who has given absolutely everything at the heart of the Mumbai FC defence. Martin has great pace and a good understanding of the game and was a lone ranger against Pune FC when he easily denied Pune FC another 4- goals. He backed that performance with a superb showing against DSK Shivajians where Mumbai FC only lost by the odd goal. Martin will be a key for Mumbai FC as they will be looking to keep a clean sheet against Kenkre FC that will take them closer to three points.

Shunthan Pheiray (Kenkre FC) – The boy with the golden hair wearing the green for Kenkre has caught the eye of everyone watching Kenkre FC play not just because of his stylish hair, but more so because of an enthralling game play the lad possesses. Shunthan plays as a left back for Kenkre FC and continuously overlaps on the left hand side, giving plenty of problems for teams on that side. Shunthan is an equally astute defender as he has the pace to cover up after going on an forward run. But it is his overlapping play that will cause problems for Mumbai FC today and Alex Ambrose’s boys will have to wary about Shunthan’s energy and quality on the left flank.

Kick-off Timing – 6 PM IST

Venue – Cooperage Stadium

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