Mumbai FC seek fresh start against in-form Sporting Clube de Goa

by Kaushal Shukla February 27, 2016

Mumbai FC will look to put behind recent woes when they entertain Sporting Clube de Goa at the Cooperage Stadium on Saturday evening in the tenth round of the Hero I-League. Mumbai FC have home comforts again after two back to back away trips and will be looking to use home comforts to turn their season around. Khalid Jamil’s men are un beaten in their last six games in Mumbai, and have won four out of those six games.

However, Mumbai FC’s record against Sporting Clube de Goa makes a poor reading with the Mumbai outfit failing to beat their Goan opponents in their last six meetings. The two sides recently met twelve days ago in Goa where Sporting Clube de Goa twice came from behind to down Mumbai FC. However, both coaches were quick to downplay any impact of that clash on Saturday’s match.

“Of course that game in Goa will be at the back of our mind, but this is a new game and that victory will have no impact on this game. We will have to perform at our best level if we are to repeat that win over Mumbai FC,” Sporting Clube de Goa Head Coach Mateus Costa expressed to the media ahead of the game.

Costa paid tribute to Mumbai FC’s strong home record, but revealed that it doesn’t in any way alter their ambitions. “We have a great respect for Mumbai FC and their coach and what they have built here. I am also aware of how difficult it is for the visiting teams to play here. But we have our own ambitions which never change irrespective of the opponent,” Costa told the media ahead of the game.

Mumbai FC who had a downturn in form in recent games will look to make a fresh start to their season according to Head Coach Khalid Jamil as he asserted that their ardent home support would aid them to do so. “We have to forget what has happened in the past and look forward. We must make a fresh start to our season and Cooperage is a good place to do that. Our fans have been motivating us very well this season and I am hoping we turn the season around,” said the Mumbai FC Head Coach.

Injuries have crippled Mumbai FC’s progress this season, but Khalid Jamil confirmed that things are improving on that front. “Taisuke and Min Chol Son are feeling much better and we they are 50-50 for tomorrow’s match. We will have a late fitness test for them where we will decide on their availability,” disclosed Jamil ahead of the game.

Khalid Jamil also confirmed the signings of Sandeep Nandy, Clifford Miranda, Naoba Singh, Syed Rahim Nabi and others who have reportedly signed for the club, but Jamil revealed that the Sporting game will come too soon for the new signings. “We have signed new players like Sandeep, Clifford, Naoba, Nabi and others, but the paperwork is yet to be completed, so they may not be available for the game on Saturday,” confirmed Khalid Jamil.

Mumbai FC will be hoping to pick up their first win in a month in the Hero I-League on home turf, but an improving Sporting Clube de Goa side will put the hosts to test in a crucial Saturday evening Hero I-League clash in Mumbai