Manvir Singh handed the Antonio Lopez Habas-coached side an early lead in the third minute, but Carlos Delgado and Roy Krishna scored once each for Odisha FC to help the team maintain their unbeaten streak at home this season (13 matches) before heading into the second leg of this last-four clash at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on April 28, Sunday. Eventually, both teams brought an end to this hotly contested clash with 10 men on either side, as goal-scorer Delgado and Mohun Bagan Super Giant striker Armando Sadiku were sent off in the 74th and 67th minutes of the match after picking up a couple of yellow cards each.

Both these teams are renowned for their expansive, free-flowing footballing styles. However, they were naturally tightly organised in this match, leaving no gaps exposed in their backlines, compelling each other out of their comfort zones and making them look for unique ways to find the back of the net. For example, Manvir Singh has been a dazzling presence on the flank for the Mariners, but tonight, at 2:21 minutes, he netted the second fastest goal in the ISL playoffs, behind only Lalrindika Ralte’s goal at 2:08 for ATK against Mumbai City FC on December 10, 2016.

The ball was delivered to him from a corner by dynamic striker Dimitrios Petratos. Petratos had assisted both of the goals by the Mohun Bagan Super Giant in their 2-1 win in the title-winning clash against Mumbai City FC earlier this month. He carried that rich vein of form in this match, providing a razor sharp cross that Manvir, positioned at the centre in the box, headed home to break the deadlock. Odisha FC were not left too far behind though, replying in similar fashion courtesy of the duo of Ahmed Jahouh and Delgado nine minutes later. The Moroccan was accurate with his corner delivery, and Delgado made his way through a crowded 18-yard box to deposit the ball into the back of the net.

A rather tense back-and-forth passage of play ensued thereafter, before Roy Krishna finally broke through with the winner in the 39th minute of the match. As the Mariners looked to press high from an Odisha FC goal-kick, custodian Amrinder Singh sensed a unique opportunity and put in a long ball straight towards Krishna inside the Mohun Bagan Super Giant half. Krishna brought the ball down with his head, before sprinting past Hector Yuste and putting the ball beyond Vishal Kaith to become the highest-ever goal-scorer for Odisha FC in a single ISL season with his 13th strike of the campaign.

Key Performer of the Match

Roy Krishna (Odisha FC)

The striker completed 15 out of his 23 attempted passes, along with making a tackle and a clearance each in addition to crossing twice. He scored the winner but refused to celebrate in respect of his former team Mohun Bagan Super Giant.

What’s next for both teams?

Both these teams will now head to the second leg of the semi-final on April 28 at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.

Brief Scores

Odisha FC 2 (Carlos Delgado 11’, Roy Krishna 39’) – 1 Mohun Bagan Super Giant (Manvir Singh 3’)

Courtesy :- ISL Media

Click here to check the Fixture, News and Standing of Indian Super League (ISL).

Click here to check the Fixture, News and Standing of Mumbai Premier league

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest happenings in the world of Indian Football.

The post Odisha FC strike first blow with 2-1 comeback win in semis against Mohun Bagan Super Giant appeared first on Football Counter.

The Antonio Lopez Habas-coached side accumulated 48 points from 22 games, beating the 47 of Mumbai City FC, and were thus crowned as the ISL 2023-24 League Winners. However, the drama hasn’t simmered down yet, with the fight for the ISL 2023-24 Cup Winners set to go down the wire with the playoffs beginning on April 19. Before that, here’s a look at some of the startling statistical insights from the league stages of the current campaign of the top-tier

Mohun Bagan Super Giant top the goal-scoring charts

Powered by a gifted frontline comprising Dimitrios Petratos, Armando Sadiku, Jason Cummings, along with Indian attackers in Liston Colaco and Manvir Singh, the Mohun Bagan Super Giant took pride in outscoring their opponents at will.

They found the back of the net 47 times across 22 games, which is the highest in the league and five more than the second-best team, i.e. Mumbai City FC (42 goals). Cummings (10), Petratos (10), and Sadiku (8) feature in the list of the top-10 goal-scorers currently, with the Mariners being the team with the highest representation in this coveted group.

Manvir Singh (7), Petratos (6), Joni Kauko (4), and Sahal Abdul Samad (4) are placed in the group of top-10 assist providers as well, reflecting a cohesive team effort that propelled the team to the title.

Mumbai City FC – Safest defence in the league

The Mumbai City FC defence has conceded the least goals in ISL 2023-24, giving away only 19 goals in the competition. The backline underwent a massive transition this season, with Mourtada Fall leaving for Odisha FC and Rostyn Griffiths saying goodbye to the Islanders mid-season.

Mumbai City FC have faced the least shots (231) and also the fewest amongst those on target (64) so far. They have kept the third-most clean sheets in the tournament (8), and their domestic contingent of the likes of Rahul Bheke, Mehtab Singh, Akash Mishra, amongst others have had a key role to play in that. Under those circumstances, the fact the Mariners managed to put in two goals past them in the title-winning clash is even more praiseworthy.

FC Goa buy into Manolo Marquez’s ideas

Manolo Marquez embraced and has so far thrived with the challenge of re-erecting the trembling FC Goa ship. The Gaurs have evolved into his philosophy seamlessly, recording a 74.3% passing accuracy in the opposition’s half this season. They have recorded the most final third passes (3265) and that too with the highest accuracy (69.7%).

Defensively, they have faced the least shots (198) and kept the most clean sheets (9) in the competition too. FC Goa, too, were derailed with injury issues to Victor Rodriguez and Sandesh Jhingan. However, they managed to stay in the hunt for the second spot right until the end owing to some smart mid-season acquisitions like Mohammed Yasir and Borja Herrera. They have also won the most points from losing situations (18), which reflects an undying attitude and something that will help them tremendously in the playoffs.

Attacking duo work wonders for Odisha FC

Boosted by the presence of senior strikers in Roy Krishna and Diego Mauricio, Odisha FC sailed through large chunks of the campaign comfortably due to their dominance upfront. With 35 goals to their name, they recorded the best shot conversion in the league at 17.9%. They have the second-best shooting accuracy in the league, at 48.5%.

The Juggernauts tend to begin the game strongly, netting 63% of their strikes in the first half of their matches. With the highest passing accuracy in the league, i.e. 81.9%, Odisha FC ensured that they kept pushing for their desired objectives of the campaign right until the very end. Will they bring their A-game to the table against Kerala Blasters on Friday?

Kerala Blasters FC face fitting playoffs task

Kerala Blasters FC sneaked into the playoffs thanks to a powerful performance in the first half of the season. The Yellow Army lost seven out of the ten games they played in the league since February, winning only twice. Though renowned for their home record, the Ivan Vukomanovic-coached team has fared well on the road too this season.

13 out of their 33 points this season have come through away fixtures. In fact, they have won six games in Kochi and four away from home, indicating that they will be up to overcome whatever challenge Odisha FC front them with in the playoffs at the Kalinga Stadium on April 19. To put some context, the Juggernauts have the best home record in the league, having collected 27 points from 11 matches, and it is a bastion that Vukomanovic & Co. will have difficulties in breaching.

Can Owen Coyle recreate his magic with Chennaiyin FC?

Chennaiyin FC stormed into the playoffs with the help of three victories in their final four matches. Owen Coyle has repeatedly managed to punch above his weight with his teams, taking the Marina Machans to the finals of ISL 2019-20 and then making Jamshedpur FC the ISL champions in 2021-22. For large parts of this season, Chennaiyin FC struggled in the bottom few places, but the team got its act together when needed, winning 10 points from losing positions this season.

They are solid starters, scoring 27% of their goals in the first 15 minutes of their games, which is the highest share amongst all teams. Rafael Crivellaro has been critical to their prospects, creating 42 goal-scoring chances and recording seven assists, and it will be interesting to observe the Brazilian unlocking the FC Goa defence in their playoffs clash on April 20.

The ISL 2023-24 playoffs kick off with the clash between Odisha FC and Kerala Blasters FC on April 19, at 7:30 pm IST.

ISL 2023-24: Team of Matchweek 22 (indiansuperleague.com)

Team of the Week – Matchweek 22

Goalkeeper: Mirshad Michu (NorthEast United FC)

Defender: Subhasish Bose (Mohun Bagan Super Giant), Bekey Oram (NorthEast United), Hector Yuste (MBSG)

Midfielder: Madih Talal (Punjab FC), Anirudh Thapa (MBSG), Brandon Fernandes (FC Goa), Mohammed Aimen (Kerala Blasters FC), Saurav Mandal (Kerala Blasters FC)

Attackers: Dimitrios Petratos (Mohun Bagan Super Giant), Carlos Martinez (FC Goa)

Standout Performances from Matchweek 22:

ISL 2023-24: Team of Matchweek 22 (indiansuperleague.com)

Points Table

Courtesy :- ISL Media

Click here to check the Fixture, News and Standing of Indian Super League (ISL).

Click here to check the Fixture, News and Standing of Mumbai Premier league

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest happenings in the world of Indian Football.

The post Attacking talents flourish, defensive stability define league’s best: ISL 2023-24 Statistical Breakdown appeared first on Football Counter.

The Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal fixture, popularly known as the Kolkata Derby is a 100-year-old footballing rivalry with a rich history. The match is locally known as the ‘boro match’ which means ‘big match’ in Bengali. The first match between these two sides was played on 8 August 1921 in the Coochbehar cup, which ended as a goalless stalemate. Since then, both of these sides have battled it out against each other around 382 times, in which, East Bengal came out victorious 132 times and Mohun Bagan won 125 games. The rest of the games ended in a draw.

Both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan joined the Hero ISL two seasons back.  Ahead of the first ISL fixture that is going to be played in front of home fans in Kolkata, we take a look at some of the memorable games between these two sides over the last 10-12 years

East Bengal 3-3 Mohun Bagan, East Bengal won 3-2 on penalties (Mohammedan sporting platinum jubilee cup, November 14, 2010)

To commemorate their maiden triumph of the prestigious Calcutta Football League in 1934, the Mohammedan sporting club organized the platinum jubilee cup with Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, and the world’s first-ever football club Sheffield FC being the participants. Mohun Bagan and East Bengal made it to the final of the two-day contest and produced a goal-fest. Alvito D’cunha put East Bengal in front in the stoppage time of the first half, but Mohun Bagan returned in the second half with goals from Satish Kumar and Ashim Biswas giving them the lead. Their celebrations didn’t last long as Robin Singh equalized for East Bengal and the game went to extra time. East Bengal looked to have won it when Robin scored again in the extra time to make it 3-2 in the 101st minute of the game. But, Mohun Bagan responded well and Harpreet Singh’s strike took the final to penalties, which East Bengal won 3-2.

East Bengal 3-0 Mohun Bagan (I-league 2012)

A wave of violence erupted at the Salt Lake Stadium as this derby fixture was forced to be called off. 

It all started when East Bengal took the lead through Harmanjot Khabra from a Mehtab Hussain freekick in the 43rd minute of the game. Things started to heat up when Bagan’s star recruit Odafa Okolie was given a straight red card by referee Vishnu Chauhan for expressing his displeasure. Soon after the incident, Mohun Bagan fans started pelting stones and bricks at the field, one of them hitting a Mohun Bagan midfielder Syed Rahim Nabi’s face. He was quickly hospitalized and Bagan players came off the field. The match was then called off after Bagan refused to field their player’s in the second half. Mohun Bagan was given a two-year suspension for the same reason.

East Bengal 4-0 Mohun Bagan (2015)

East Bengal clinched the Calcutta Football League title for the 6th consecutive time by thrashing Mohun Bagan 4-0 in their penultimate game of the league.

In front of a packed 65000 crowd at the Salt Lake Stadium, East Bengal’s South Korean star recruit Do Dong-Hyun netted two freekicks in the first half while goals from Muhammad Rafique and Rahul Bheke in the second half completed a 4-0 rout against their arch-rivals, Mohun Bagan.

Mohun Bagan 2-1 East Bengal (I-league 2019)

This was the last Kolkata Derby game in the I-league era. Mohun Bagan made it one to remember as goals from Joseba Betia and Baba Diawara on either side of the break gave the Mariners 3 points and the much-needed edge in their title race with East Bengal’s consolation goal coming from Marco’s Jimenez in the 72nd minute being too late.

ATK Mohun Bagan 3-1 SC East Bengal 

One of the dramatic encounters between the two sides in the ISL has to be the 2021 fixture where a young Kiyan Nassiri, son of former East Bengal legend Jamshad Nassiri stunned the red and gold with his second-half hat-trick heroics that won the game for the Mariners. Darren Sidoel had given East Bengal the lead in the 56th minute of the game, but Kiyan came on and soon equalized in the 64′ minute, However, his dramatic double strike deep in the injury time killed the game for East Bengal as Mariners extended their winning streak against the rivals.

Today as Kolkata prepares for another derby day, it will be interesting to see whether Juan Ferrando’s high-flying ATK Mohun Bagan come on top or will it be Stephen Constantine’s pragmatic East Bengal that breaks the jinx, either ways expect a high-octane encounter.

Photo Credit – ISL Media

Also Read: Sekar sinks Bengaluru FC as Odisha FC pick up third win of the season and go top of the table

For more trial-related updates click-> Latest trials updates in Mumbai Football

The post Kolkata Derby: Memorable games from the last decade appeared first on Football Counter.

Ugandan forward Henry Kisekka put the Green and Maroons ahead with an early strike. Former Bagan man Ansumana Kromah drew Aizawl level on the half-hour mark. Bagan left it late as defender Singh hit home the winner with just 12 minutes of regulation time left.

This win secures Bagan’s place in sixth in the league table as they draw level with Neroca FC. The Manipuri club is ahead on goal difference.

Bagan boss Khalid Jamil adopted attacking tactics in search of an early goal. Kisekka latched on to Abinash Ruidas’ free-kick and scored in the 22nd minute.

Kromah lined up a shot from outside the Bagan penalty area and sent it into the bottom corner. 1-1 to Aizawl eight minutes after conceding!

Jamil brought Egyptian Omar Elhussieny for veteran Mehtab Hossain in the second half to add more creativity in the middle. Bikramjit Singh hit home Sony Norde’s freekick and gave Bagan the winner late in the second half.

Jamil brought on Darren Caldeira for Kisekka to bolster the back-line as Aizawl went full throttle.

Bagan held on and won!

Also Read: Ralte tricks as East Bengal slam five past Lajong

Also Read: Chennai City and Neroca share spoils in six-goal thriller

The post HERO I-LEAGUE: Late Singh goal helps Bagan beat Aizawl appeared first on Football Counter.

The match kicks off at 2 pm IST.

Hosts Aizawl is seventh with 14 points from 15 games. The Mizoram team has now picked up five points since new coach Stanley Rosario took over. They also have a game in hand over Bagan.

Bagan, on the other hand, is currently sixth and will give it their all to finish as high up the table as possible.

Aizawl is clear favorites for this game. The first leg in Kolkata ended in a 2-2 draw thanks to a brilliant freekick by David in added time. That game probably started Bagan’s slide. Aizawl beat Minerva Punjab FC in their previous game. Surely a confidence booster! Bagan has lost one and drawn two, going into Saturday’s contest.

Bagan looks formidable thanks to an attack comprising of Cameroon striker Dipanda Dicka (he has scored seven goals so far), Ugandan forward Henry Kisekka and Haitian winger Sony Norde.

Coach Khalid Jamil was very clear about his ambitions at the pre-match press conference: “We are not thinking about the past. We are not taking tomorrow’s match lightly. We are trying to concentrate all through the 90 minutes. Aizwal’s management is good and they have good players. We must finish well, our target is to finish top four.”

The new coach is trying to build a fighting unit. He is known to be defensive in his approach. Bagan has displayed a compact and tactical defence. The back-four comprising of Eze Kingsley, Gurtej Singh, Bikramjtit Singh, and Amey Ranawade has exhibited a valiant defensive show. They have cut-off the supply for the opposition.

Aizawl’s last game against Gokulam Kerala was postponed. They were stuck in Kashmir due to heavy snowfall after their match against Real Kashmir FC. Aizawl, therefore, will play after a rest of 15 days. That would be an added advantage on home turf!

Coach Stanley Rozario drove home that point in the pre-game presser: “After I got the charge of the team, there were a few transformations and we had different results in the past three matches and they were all big matches.

“Tomorrow’s game is with a big team and we will try to give our best. The Mizo players are very talented. If they play well and as a team then definitely we can be in a better position,” he said. “The three points are very important for us tomorrow. Mohun Began has good players but they are also struggling for results. We have an upper hand since its a home match,” he said.

They have had sparks in Mapuia and David, while foreigners Kromah, Dodoz and Jaryan have been at par. For some reason, the team has not been able to gel well. We are all set for an entertaining game of football!

Also Read: Gokulam face Arrows as Super Cup qualification beckons

Also Read: Ralte tricks as East Bengal slam five past Lajong

The post Hero I-League: Only pride to play for as Aizawl host Bagan appeared first on Football Counter.

Anthony Wolfe’s late penalty canceled out Dipanda Dicka’s 39th-minute goal.

Churchill is third in the 12th Hero I-League table while Mohun Bagan is in sixth having played a game less.

The coaches — Petra Gigiu (Churchill Brothers) and Khalid Jamil (Mohun Bagan) — rang in numerous changes and are still searching for a win in three successive games.

This crucial period can make or break their title aspirations as the league will end within a month.

The game was a dour affair as Mohun Bagan took the lead into the break thanks to Dicka’s opportunistic strike. It was his seventh goal in the season so far.

Haitian winger Sony Norde missed an early chance and Lybian defender Hussein Eldor hit the woodwork in the 17th minute for Churchill. Dicka scored six minutes before the end of the first half.

The home team was more unsettled by the fact that they lost two key players to injury prior to conceding. Hussein Eldor was replaced by Rowlinson Rodriguez and Richard Costa was stretchered away in tears and was replaced by Aniston Fernandes.

Sony Norde was brought down inside the Churchill half by Wayne Vaz as the latter kept the Haitian in check throughout the game. Abinash Ruidas floated in the freekick to Henry Kisekka who headed towards Dicka.

The Cameroonian looked to have been well covered by Rowlinson, who in his attempt to clear, flummoxed his own goalkeeper Vicky Baskaran as he missed with his right foot and touched the ball with his left. Dicka who had not given up pursuit tapped home from close range.

Churchill regained composure in the second half and pressed on for the equalizer. They couldn’t hit the target despite a few good chances. Bagan, meanwhile, had a solid punch by Omar Elhusseiny saved by Baskaran on the half-hour mark.

Central defender Eze Kingsley who had a good game was adjudged to have brought down substitute Wolfe inside the box. The Trinidadian beat goalkeeper Shilton Paul from the spot to level things up.

The game finished at 1-1 as both teams rued another missed opportunity for getting three points. This has been the theme for both teams throughout the season.

Also Read: Robin Singh ends goal drought as Pune-ATK encounter end in 2-2 draw

Also Read: Chennaiyin expose chinks in Bengaluru’s armour

The post HERO I-LEAGUE: Wolfe’s late penalty gives Churchill draw against Bagan appeared first on Football Counter.

It was Bagan’s second successive win at home under coach Khalid Jamil. Though both teams had their chances still Norde’s 78th-minute goal sealed the deal.

The Kolkata side are placed sixth in the 12th Hero I-League table and are level on points with Neroca (fifth). It may be noted that Neroca have a better goal difference (and a game in hand) than Bagan. Bagan, who beat Minerva Punjab in the last game, pressed hard from the start but were denied by resolute defending.

Neroca too had their chances as they breached the home team’s defence in short intervals. Despite Subhash Singh and Malem (supported by Aryn Williams and Felix Chidi) being a constant threat goalkeeper Shilton Paul ensured that Bagan kept a clean sheet.

Norde and Dipanda Dicka threatened Neroca at times but the visitors held firm at the back. The first-half ended goalless.

A similar script panned out in the second as Neroca held on despite Bagan pounding at the doors. The home team attacked relentlessly to keep the visitors under pressure. Bagan lost a gilt-edged chance when Norde’s superb pass to Dicka was blocked by Lalit Thapa inside the Neroca box at the hour mark. Neroca in contrast lacked the much-needed bite in front of goal.

They soon caved in as Norde scored. The Haitian made a superb solo run on the back of Darren Caldeira’s fine pass before applying the finish. Bagan later snuffed out Neroca’s chances to ensure that the game finished at 1-0.

Mohun Bagan’s Shilton Paul was adjudged the ‘Hero of the Match’.

Also Read: HERO I-LEAGUE: Bagan down Minerva to stay alive in title race

Also Read:  Tricky but still very possible! A look at India’s Knockout round chances 

Follow Football Counter on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all the latest happenings in the world of Indian football.

The post HERO I-LEAGUE: Norde magic helps Bagan down Neroca FC appeared first on Football Counter.

Though Kashmir are level on points with second-placed Churchill Brothers they still are behind on goal-difference. The Snow Leopards are third in the 12th Hero I-League table (at the time of writing).

Aizawl made three changes to the team as Govin Singh, Paul Ramfangzaua and youngster Lalremsanga played. Lalremsanga made his first start in the I-League in place of the injured Ansumanah Kromah and Lalkhawpuimawia.

Real Kashmir coach David Robertson fielded the playing XI which had won against Mohun Bagan. Aizawl defender Kareem played out of position (in attack) alongside skipper Alfred Jaryan and local boy Paul Ramfangzaua. Despite early promise Aizawl’s attack petered out as striker Remsanga was shut out by the towering Kashmir defenders.

Aizawl had a good chance to score in the first-half but Remsanga’s shot went past the crossbar! Kashmir on the other hand had their own woes as was evident by striker Kofi Tetteh’s predicament. Tetteh failed to score despite rounding goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh in the first-half.

The absence of striker Gnohere Krizo hurt Kashmir who looked inept in front of goal. Full marks to Richard Kassaga who marshaled the Aizawl defence throughout. Come the second-half and as Tetteh dummied a pass to Suchandra, the latter’s powerful shot was blocked by Kassaga.

Kashmir later went on the offensive while Aizawl were defending in their own half. And as Danish Farooq’s curler was acrobatically saved by Gurpreet, the home fans voiced their approval. The home team did make one last attempt to score but the game eventually finished at 0-0.

Aizawl skipper Alfred Kemah Jaryan’s gusty performance earned him the ‘Hero of the Match’ award.

Also Read: We need to win against Bahrain: Constantine

Also Read: Tricky but still very possible! A look at India’s Knockout round chances 

Follow Football Counter on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all the latest happenings in the world of Indian football.

The post HERO I-LEAGUE: Real Kashmir inch closer to top after Aizawl stalemate appeared first on Football Counter.

Though the win improves Bagan’s chances of a top-half finish they still have an outside chance to win the 12th Hero I-League title.

Egyptian midfielder Omar El Hussieny converted a penalty in the first-half while Cameroonian striker Dipanda Dicka scored in the second. This is Bagan’s fifth win of the season.

Jamil’s team consolidate their hold on sixth spot in the league table.

Minerva on the other hand are stuck on seventh with hopes of a title defence looking improbable.

Jamil played Gurjinder and Dalraj (defence) and Abhishek Ambekar (left-back) and kept Arijit Bagui and Ugandan forward Henry Kisekka on the bench. Dicka was the lone striker while Sony Norde played on the left wing.

Minerva coach Paul Munster played Yu Kuboki and Prabhjot Singh upfront due to the unavailability of William Opoku.

Bagan despite dominating possession couldn’t find a way past Minerva in the first-half. The visitors at times defended with nine men in their own half!

The home team broke the deadlock when Omar El Hussieny scored from the spot at the halfway mark.

The Kolkata outfit’s strategy of holding on to possession caused Minerva problems in the second-half.

It worked when Dicka beat goalkeeper Bhaskar Roy (and the off-side trap!) to score Bagan’s second goal in the 69th minute. Norde’s through-ball in the build-up to the goal was worth a mention!

Roy’s fantastic save off El Hussieny ensured that Minerva didn’t concede again.

The second-half introduction of Moinuddin, Dilliram Sanyasi and Makan Winkle Chote didn’t make a difference for Minerva.

Bagan host Neroca FC in two days’ time while Minerva have a 10-day break before their game against Gokulam Kerala at home.

Also Read: MDFA ELITE DIVISION: Banky shines as Sellebrity gun down FSI

Also Read: HERO I-LEAGUE: Experience to the fore as East Bengal edge out Arrows

Follow Football Counter on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all the latest happenings in the world of Indian football.

The post HERO I-LEAGUE: Bagan down Minerva to stay alive in title race appeared first on Football Counter.

Bagan lie in sixth spot while Minerva are one place below them in the 12th Hero I-League standings. Both teams go into this fixture on the back of morale-sapping defeats.

The Kolkata outfit have named Khalid Jamil as their new coach (Sankarlal Chakraborty resigned after the loss to Real Kashmir). Jamil (who helped Aizawl FC win their maiden I-League title) has had limited time to prepare for this crunch fixture.

In his first press conference he stressed on the need to keep things simple: “It is the first match for me and it is a big challenge to get a good start. We are only thinking about a positive start. We are not thinking about the past but about tomorrow, and will be giving our best. I will be keeping it simple, not many changes and thinking positive.”

Minerva on the other hand has been inconsistent under Irish coach Paul Munster. They have scored only six times in 11 games. None of Munster’s player-combinations has worked so far.

Munster had this to say: “It’s a new coach. When a new coach comes in, the players want to impress the new coach. So, it is a motivation for them. We are aware of Mohun Bagan and we know how they play. New coach, he may make new decisions, new tactics, maybe different players playing.”

He hinted that his premiere marksman might be injured for the game: “We have only two foreigners playing in defence, as others are injured. Both teams are in the same situation, similar in the league positions as well.”

Bagan (who beat Minerva in their previous meeting) has won three of it’s last five games. Minerva (who beat East Bengal earlier in the season) may take heart from the fact that Bagan hasn’t had a good run at the VYBK.

The home team has leaked in 14 goals in 11 games. This defensive frailty can be exploited by Minerva’s young strike-force! William Opoku misses out for Minerva. A tight contest is on cards!

Also Read: HERO I-LEAGUE: East Bengal face stiff Arrows challenge

Also Read: HERO I-LEAGUE: Jamil joins Mohun Bagan as head coach

Follow Football Counter on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all the latest happenings in the world of Indian football.

The post HERO I-LEAGUE: Last chance saloon for Bagan and Minerva appeared first on Football Counter.