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FATORDA: Hosts FC Goa will face Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Super League match, on January 25, at the Nehru Stadium, here, at 7.30 pm.
FC Goa currently are at second position on the points table with 30 points from 16 matches, while Chennaiyin FC are 10th with 18 points from 17 games.
The Gaurs have won thrice in their last five games and are seven points behind the top-placed Mohun Bagan Super Giant (37), who have played an additional game (17) too. The Manolo Marquez-coached team will be buoyed with Jamshedpur FC losing to Hyderabad FC on Thursday, since it eases pressure on them at the second spot, as a win would have propelled the Red Miners (28) to displace FC Goa in their position for now.
For Chennaiyin FC, the equation is fairly straightforward. The Marina Machans are trailing the sixth-placed Odisha FC (24) by seven points, having played the same number of games as them. Form hasn’t really been on their side off late, losing twice and drawing thrice in their previous five encounters. In fact, their last three matches have produced consecutive draws, and Owen Coyle will be hoping to overturn this streak in order to get more points under their belt. They can ill afford to succumb to defeats anymore since the competition is intensifying at the middle of the table.
FC Goa will look to ride on Brison Fernandes’ purple patch upfront, as with six strikes he is the only Indian alongside Sunil Chhetri (11) in the list of top-10 goal-scorers so far this season. Overall, the Gaurs have struck the back of the net 30 times, powered by Armando Sadiku (9), Borja Herrera (4), amongst others.
Chennaiyin FC have scored 23 times, with Wilmar Jordan Gil (8) embracing the major chunk of the responsibilities in the frontline. The Gaurs (20), however, have been relatively more disciplined defensively, as compared to Chennaiyin FC (27), and FC Goa have conceded just twice in their last three matches. Can the Marina Machans breach their defence tomorrow?
The Gaurs have been unbeaten in their last four meetings with Chennaiyin FC (won 3, draw 1). Avoiding defeat in this match would mark their longest unbeaten run against the Marina Machans in ISL history. They have also scored in each of their last 16 games, levelling their longest scoring streak in the competition. A goal in this match would make it a record-breaking 17 consecutive matches with a strike, displaying the cohesion with which their frontline has been operating.
FC Goa Head Coach Manolo Marquez admitted that it is going to be a tough contest against the Chennaiyin FC, who he believes are a strong team.
“Chennaiyin FC played well against Mohun Bagan Super Giant. They are a strong team and it will be a difficult game for both teams. It’s very difficult to win games in the middle of the competition,” he said.
“We are focused on what we want out of this game”
Chennaiyin FC Head Coach Owen Coyle is confident that his team can get a sequence of positive results under their belt once they get on a winning momentum.
“We are focused on what we want out of this game. You rarely change the defenders but we have had to do it for a long time. We have shown before as a club what we are capable of once we get on a winning run,” he said.
