Attack-minded Mumbai FC eyeing East Bengal scalp

by Kaushal Shukla January 16, 2016

Mumbai FC host Kingfisher East Bengal at Cooperage in the second round of the Hero I-League on Sunday evening. Mumbai FC will be hoping to get their home campaign underway with a win, but it will be easier said than done against a quality opponent like East Bengal who already have an away win under their belt this season.

Mumbai FC lost just twice at Cooperage last term, but Khalid Jamil will be looking to better their four wins at home in the last campaign and a win against East Bengal would be the perfect start to Build Cooperage as a fortress.

Form Guide

If form is used to gauge the two teams, there will be no separating the two teams. East Bengal were rampant in their run to the Calcutta Football League title, before starting the Hero I-League campaign with a 3-1 away win against Sporting Club de Goa.

Mumbai FC too are top of the MDFA Elite Division and are unbeaten in their last eight I-League matches. Mumbai FC’s last two home games ended in the home side picking up maximum points, with the first one coming against tomorrow’s opponents East Bengal

Team News

Mumbai FC have no injury concerns for the East Bengal game as revealed by Khalid Jamil ahead of the game. But the Mumbai FC Head Coach revealed that the Cooperage faithful might have to wait to get a glimpse of Japanese striker Ryuki Kozawa as the new Mumbai FC signing continues to build his match fitness.

Khalid Jamil stressed the need to attack East Bengal and has promised to make changes to the side that will help Mumbai FC to get on the front foot.

East Bengal will be without Cavin Lobo, Gurwinder Singh and Sehnaj Singh for the match against Mumbai FC after Biswajit Bhattacharya confirmed their absence. The East Bengal Head Coach also ruled out Bernard Mendy playing any part in tomorrow’s clash with the French defender yet to join the team.

Key Facts

• Mumbai FC have won their last three home games against East Bengal in the I-League and are unbeaten in four matches against the Red and Golds.
• East Bengal wins 70 per cent of matches when Ranti Martins gets on the score sheet.

Key Battles

Taisuke Matsugae vs Harmanjot Singh Khabra

The epic battle in the middle of the park will see Mumbai FC’s Japanese midfield maestro take on the industrious Harmanjot Singh Khabra who has been in really good form since the ISL. Taisuke is talismanic for Mumbai FC and all their five win last season came when Taisuke Matsugae played for the Mumbai side. Taisuke has the ability to score some crucial goals for Mumbai FC and is very much the heartbeat of the side.

Harmanjot Singh Khabra will have to keep an eye on Taisuke and try to shackle the vibrant Japanese midfielder. Khabra himself will pose a threat to Mumbai FC and Taisuke will have to nullify Khabra’s energy on the pitch.

Ranti Martins vs Min Chol Son

Ranti Martins, the I-League’s all time leading goal scorer is already off the mark for the season with a splendid brace away to Sporting Club de Goa, that helped them overturn a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 win. Ranti also scored in East Bengal’s 2-1 defeat at Cooperage last season and will once again be the main threat for Mumbai FC.

Min Chol Son had a steady game playing at center half against Shillong Lajong as Mumbai FC came away with a credible point away from home. Min Chol Son will probably face the toughest test of his short Mumbai FC career on Sunday when he will be up against Ranti Martins. Son will have to track Martins and prevent him from escaping his clutches. If Son can succeed in keeping Ranti Martins quiet, Mumbai FC would go a long way towards winning the game.

Predictions

Prediction

Mumbai FC 2-1 East Bengal