Team Herald
sports@herald-goa.com
MUMBAI: Mumbai City FC will host FC Goa in the Indian Super League match to be played at the Mumbai Football Arena on February 12, at 7.30 pm, here.
The Islanders will target extending their stronghold against the Gaurs, since they are unbeaten in their previous 13 ISL encounters against them – winning eight times and drawing on five occasions.
FC Goa are placed second in the points table with 36 points from 19 matches, winning 10 games and drawing six. However, they faced their first away loss of the season when Jamshedpur FC beat the side 3-1 earlier this month. The Gaurs have not been dealt with straight away losses in the ISL since a brief three-match-long stint between October-December 2022.
Both these sides have different objectives coming into this encounter. FC Goa are 10 points behind the top-placed Mohun Bagan Super Giant (46), but their key objective right now is to safeguard their standing in the second spot.
Finishing there will mean that they qualify straight for the semi-finals and would not have to play the single-legged eliminator in the playoffs. For that, they would have to fend off competition from the third-placed Jamshedpur FC (34), with both sides having played the same number of games (19). This game can have a huge impact on the eventual title race.
If FC Goa lose against Mumbai City FC, and Mohun Bagan Super Giant beat Kerala Blasters FC away on February 15, the Mariners will become the ISL 2024-25 League Winners in that case.
FC Goa Head Coach Manolo Marquez refused to look too far ahead in the league stages at the moment.
“The most important thing for us right now is the next game, and not the ones that follow. It doesn’t matter what happened in the past. We need to consider the circumstances around this match,” he said.