A look at both the teams,

About the opponent:

The Puerto Rican side is on the back of two Recently friendly losses against Dominican Republic. They lost 5-0 away and 0-1 at home to their opponent on 28 and 30 August respectively, so they could be low on morale. As per latest report, the CONCAF side has missed their connecting flights from New York and will reach Mumbai a day late on Friday evening. Jet Lagged, less time to acclimatize to weather, missing their coach (who has not travelled with the team) and their three star Players (due to the fight with their federation) along with the fact that they would have almost no time to practice could become a huge factor against the visiting side.

Squad:

GK: Christopher Echevarría, Johnny Santana

Defenders: Emmanuel D’Andrea, Elliot Vélez, Javier Lalondriz, Joan Morales, Marcos Martínez, Jacob Conde

Midfielders: Alexis Rivera, Juan Vélez (Captain), Andrés Cabrero, Juan Coca

Forwards: Karlos Ferre, Mike Ramos, Manolo Sanchez

Team Verdict:  With stars and Puerto Rico’s all time leading scorers Hector Ramos and his fellow strike partner, Joseph Marrero missing the game, Mike Ramos, who has yet to open his International goals account will be expected to lead the attack with Manolo Sanchez or the 18 year old Karlos Ferre as the strike Partner. Despite recent setbacks, the team would be looking to get back on winning note to boost their preparations for Caribbean Cup qualification.

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Gurpreet Singh Sandhu

About the Host:

India will fancy their chance against the weary side that is also missing their star players. Apart from the two World cup qualifiers in March, India has been on winning side for 7 games now, which includes a SAFF cup victory. With star players back in the team and other youngsters gaining valuable match experiences in Bhutan win, India would look to create upset.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Subrata Paul, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu(C), Amrindher Singh

Defenders: Rino Anto, Sandesh Jhingan, Arnab Mondal, , Chinglensana Singh, Pritam Kotal, Narayan Das, Fulganco Cardozo

Midfielders: Vinit Rai, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Dhanpal Ganesh, Pronay Halder, Jackichand Singh, Isaac Vanmalsawma, Bikash Jairu, Holicharan Narzary, Rowlin Borges, Germanpreet Singh, Mohammed Rafique, Arjun Tudu

Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Sumeet Passi

Team Verdict: With Coach Constantine’s position in question, he will be hard pressed to deliver a win here, with favorable factors of a weary side sans its star player, along with a full strength squad at his own disposal. With a new captain in Gurpreet Sandhu, an in-form striker in Jeje and other promising talents in options, the team would be expected to take a new step for future with a win over a higher ranked team.

Does history beckon the Indian team as they take on Puerto Rico at the new venue of Andheri sports Complex, Mumbai? Fans will be expected to be in numbers as International football returns to Mumbai for the first time in 61 years. A win will be the perfect start to the festive environment of the city that is about to kick in from Monday.

KICK OFF: 8:00PM

Venue: Andheri Sports Complex, Mumbai

Live on: Star Sports 2 and Star Sports HD2

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India started the first half with an attacking mindset with both Jeje and Passi at top with Jackichand and Holicharan Narzary at the flanks. But it was the home side, which had the opportunity to draw the first blood. Bhutan’s all time leading scorer Chencho got past the Indian defense in the very first minute with just the onrushing Keeper Subrata paul to beat, chencho chipped the ball wide of the post. That mistake proved to be costly as the Indians quickly gathered it senses and got on the score sheet in the next minute. A quick throw in from the right in Bhutan half resulted in a shot inside the Bhutan Box where an onrushing Sumit Passi managed to get his header directed into the goal at near post.

Lively Jackichand Singh managing the right flank became the provider for the next goal, when he took a long ball from another performer of the day pronay halder to cut the ball inside and towards the far post for Jeje, who got free of his marker to finish of a good move with a smart finish. Two minutes later, it was once again Pronay at the right flank, passing it to Jeje who squared it up for an onrushing Narzary. Narzary finished it off by smashing the ball to the left corner of the keeper to make it 3-0. After that few more opportunities came across for team one of which came for passi at half hour mark, when a miscued a shot after receiving it from Narzary. Chencho seemed to be like the Bhutan’s lone warrior as he lost number of his forward runs with ball, due to lack of support from his teammates. His best opportunity came at the end of first half when he failed to connect an header to a move he initiated in his own half.

As expected Constantine didn’t lose any opportunity to test his new ones, after sensing that the game was in hand, he made series of changes at half time, Bringing in Germanpreet, Issac and Chinglesana to replace Aibor, Hali and Ganesh Dhanachandran. This resulted in the Indian team losing its steam, despite the home team going down to 10 men after a bad challenge by Gurung against Halder. The Indian attack began to wither at the end as they failed to add any more goals to the tally.

Issac looked lively on the field but failed to put finishing touches as he miscued number of shorts, while Jeje was denied by the post, Sumit got his header kept away by the keeper. In the mean time few more changes were made with Vinit rai coming in for Borges.

One of the biggest positive that coach Constantine managed was to get valuable game time for debutants Vinit, Germanpreet, Kaushik, Issac and Konsham, which will only help them for future. Also getting goals under their belt will only boost the morale’s for Sumit passi and Holicharan Narzary. Bhutan would be happy with their performances as well, especially with their after they were reduced to ten men in the second half. After conceding three goals in first 25 minutes, Bhutan pulled up their socks and defended like a rock, but failed to capitalize on their few occasional counterattacks.

Despite a promising first half by the blue tigers, failure to capitalize in the second half resulted in the match ending at the same half time score of 3-0. With all the positives picked up from the game, there are still some areas that the team could work on before the more important game against Puerto Rico.

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The Indian management, so far has done all the right things leading up to the game, after the pre-planned USA tour was cancelled due to diplomatic issues, a quick friendly game was arranged for players to gain some match experience. The game will be still expected to be a one-sided affair,  despite India being without their star players. Due to the match being an Unofficial Friendly most of the First team players are not available, as both BFC and EB refused to release their players and so did stabaek, the Norwegian club for which India’s regular Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu plays.

India will look to start with 4-2-3-1 formation which would be best suited for their current squad, Although Coach Constantine much fancied attacking formation of 4-3-3 could be seen in latter parts of the game. In form Mohan Bagan and Chennaiyin FC striker Jeje lalpekhlua would be expected to lead the team, while despite subrata paul being the experienced campaigner, the keeper responsibilities could either fall on debutants L Kattimani or TP Rehneesh. Sandesh Jinghan and Khongjee would be expected to share the central defensive responsibilities while F Cardozo and Chinglesana singh would be given the role of Full backs. Mid field looks strong as both Rowlin Borges and Pronay Halder are expected to start the game carrying their good club forms. While Jackichand will start at left flank, L Changte or Issac Chhakchhuk would battle for the right one, with the former having more of chance after his two goal burst against Nepal in SAFF championship earlier this year. In the attacking front, Jeje is expected to lead the attack with Holicharan Nazary and Sumit passi being the options for support.

Bhutan has favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation for their games, and they know that this is the perfect warm up for them before their qualifier game next month. Hari gurung will be the Bhutanese man between the sticks with a young 16 year old Mikyo Dorji being another option. The defense includes an experienced group of players with total caps counting to 45 games. Karma Tshering, the captain will be expected to be in Central midfield along with Tshering Dorji, Goal scorer of the much talked upset match against Sri Lanka. Chencho Gyeltshen, all time goal scorer for Bhutan would be expected to lead the attack.

Although India will be expected to brush past their neighbors, an upset on the cards by the minnows cannot be ruled out.

Kick OFF: 15:30

Bhutan vs India Squads

India

Goalkeepers: Subrata Paul, T.P Rehenesh, Laxmikant Kattimani.

Defenders: Sandesh Jhingan, Fluganco Cardozo, Chinglesana Konsham Singh, Aiborlang Khongjee, Koushik Sarkar.

Midfielders: Isaac Chhakchhuak, Rowlin Borges, Dhanpal Ganesh, David Lalrinmuana, Vinit Rai, Germanpreet Singh, Pronoy Halder, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Jackichand Singh.

Forwards: Halicharan Narzary, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Sumeet Passi.

Bhutan

Goalkeepers: Gurung, Dendup, Gyeltshen

Defenders: P.Dorji, C.Dorji, D.Gyeltshen, K.Nidup, D.Biswa, M.Gurung, J.Dorjee

Midfielders: Tshering Dorji, K. Tshering, T. Dorji, S. Phuntsho, K. Gyeltshen, K. Gurung, D. Tshering

Attackers: T. Wangdi, L. Dawa, K. Wangd, B. Basnet, U. Dorji, D. Subba, L. Dorji, C. Gyeltshen, S. Tobgay

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Since the Planned USA tour could not be materialized, the Indian team is playing this unofficial friendly to get some match experience for their new players and check out their development, on the other hand Bhutan will be preparing for their 2019 Asian Cup qualifier game against Bangladesh. Currently ranked 192 and once regarded as the world’s worst football team, Bhutan has came a long way since then, beating Sri Lanka in the World Cup Qualifiers. Although the Indian team would be expected to win this, Bhutan could still spring surprises. Lacking regular team players and football season yet to start meant no competitive games for the last two-three months, and while Bhutan players have been playing in their league, Indian players could be caught napping. National Team coach, Stephen Constantine has done well to have kept a Pre-season training camp to get his players ready and gauge their abilities. A win on 13^th August will go a long way in boosting the morale of players, but it is the september opponent that will help gauge the current situation of our National football team. Ranked 112 currently Puerto rico will be a real test for the young Indian players.

While most of the players have at least played one game, the keeping department may get a new face with either T.P Rehenesh or Laxmikant Kattimani getting the chance, while in the midfield too David Lalrinmuana, Chinglesana Konsham Singh, Isaac Chhakchhuak or Germanpreet Singh could be starting. The 20 man squad that has travelled to Bhutan is as follows:

GOALKEEPERS: Subrata Paul, T.P Rehenesh, Laxmikant Kattimani.

DEFENDERS: Sandesh Jhingan, Fluganco Cardozo, Chinglesana Konsham Singh, Aiborlang Khongjee, Koushik Sarkar.

MIDFIELDERS:  Isaac Chhakchhuak, Rowlin Borges, Dhanpal Ganesh, David Lalrinmuana, Vinit Rai, Germanpreet Singh, Pronoy Halder, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Jackichand Singh.

FORWARDS: Halicharan Narzary, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Sumeet Passi.

COACH: Stephen Constantine.

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FC Goa marquee player Robert Pires along with the India Under 19 player before the kick off

In a fast paced first half FC Goa came out all guns blazing to take the lead via a Haroon Amiri goal in the 19th minute of play. FC Goa pushed on for a second but the India under 19 team held on and almost scored on the counter attack. With the first half coming to a close, Miguel Herlein scored a cracker of a shot from 20 yards to make it 2-0. The young boys from the India under 19 team came close on a number of occasions to get on the score sheet but Jan Seda held his line in goal.

In the second half FC Goa scored two quick goals to increase the lead. First Gabriel Fernandes scored to make it 3-0 and the next goal came from Holicharan Nazarath to take the lead at 4-0.

Said Manager and Chief Coach Zico post the match, “This level of performance was expected after the daily training and commitment that the team has been putting in everyday. The team now understands how I want them to play in terms of formation and performance. At the end of 90 minutes Im happy with how the team played.

Speaking on Pires he said, “ Pires’ presence on the field is important. He played well and assists the team. I’m satisfied with his performance and that of the team”.

Added co owner Mr. Dattaraj Salgaocar, “The team is shaping up well. They are gelling well and playing as a team. The players are committed and are playing with passion. This match has been a fast-paced entertaining match. I’m sure as the days go, they will gel and play together even better ”.

Ahead of ISL, which will begin on October 12, the franchise teams have been playing friendly matches with various football clubs. In its first friendly match played some days ago FC Goa triumphed over Sesa Football Academy by a margin of 3 goals (Score 3-0).

Zico has begun putting the FC Goa lads through the motions at team training sessions and is gearing for the first season of the ISL.

FC Goa will play their first ISL match against Chennaiyans FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Margao on October 15, 2014.

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Holicharan Nazary scored the first of three goals in the 30th minute, here at Vasco’s Tilak Maidan Stadium. FC Goa’s marquee player, former French international and Arsenal star Robert Pires started the game, much to the happiness of all the fans that were present to witness the legend in action. The FC Goa marquee player played just over 45 minutes as he was substituted in the second half to a rousing applause from the fans. The second and third goals came in quick succession as Miguel Herlein and new recruit Tolgay Ozbey scored in the 75th and 86th minute respectively. The first match of FC Goa saw an enthusiastic crowd of spectators turn up to cheer and support their favorite team.

Ahead of ISL, which will begin on October 12, the franchise teams are playing friendly matches with various football clubs in Goa. Apart from this, North East United played a match with Tuff Laxmi, which resulted in a draw.

FC Goa will play their first ISL match against Chennaiyans FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Margao on October 15, 2014.

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