MARGAO: Mumbai FC will hope to continue with their unbeaten streak in the competition as they take on Salgaocar FC in a Hero I-League clash, at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, here, on Saturday. The match starts at 4.30 p.m.
Mumbai FC have remained unbeaten in six matches in the Hero I-League and have jumped much above the relegation zone. In the last six matches alone, they have had three wins, including one away against Bharat FC and three creditable draws at home.
A win against Salgaocar FC, coach Khalid Jamil knows, will take them into the top half and the former India midfielder is keen to continue with the momentum.
“This is an away match and against Salgaocar which is a good, strong team. They also have the home advantage and it will be difficult to beat them,” said Jamil.
Jamil, though, needs no reminding that Mumbai FC had scored a convincing 3-0 victory over their Goan rivals when the two teams met at the Cooperage in the first leg. Mumbai FC have been rock-solid with their performances, although Jamil is not leaving anything to chance.
“That was an entirely different game,” said the Mumbai FC coach, whose team managed a creditable draw against Pune FC in the last game despite having a player sent off in the first half itself.
Salgaocar FC have struggled for form this season but Derrick Pereira’s boys have provided ample proof that no opposition can take them for granted. Plagued by injuries, Derrick has not had the team together for several matches and tomorrow will be no different as several players continue to remain on the sidelines.
Despite having an injury-ravaged team, Derrick’s boys gave a creditable performance against defending champions Bengaluru FC in the last match at Fatorda and only lost to a late goal. Derrick will continue to show faith in the same team that kept Bengaluru FC at bay for most part of the match.
Salgaocar are currently placed seventh on the league ladder with 11 points and if the manage a win they could switch places with the visitors from Mumbai and occupy the sixth spot. Both these teams have plenty to play for.
Injuries have been the Greens’ biggest enemy this season with as many as five key players missing the last encounter against Bengaluru FC, in which the youngsters who took on the mantle did admirably to ward off a full strength Bengaluru side until the final 10 minutes, a late Robin Singh goal sealing the game in favour of the Blues.
“We have been defending very well as we’ve shown in the last couple of games and playing good football all round. Unfortunately though, we haven’t found the back of the net as often as we’d like to and that has cost us dear”, remarked Derrick Pereira. “This is the best side Mumbai FC have had in a while, they are physically strong side. But we have prepared ourselves well and will look to stick to the basics”, he further added.
The gaffer however, will be buoyed by the return of Indian International Augustin Fernandes and Zambian Francis Kasonde at the heart of defense, both having missed the last game through suspension and injury respectively.
Striker Darryl Duffy has also resumed training earlier in the week and is likely to be included in the final 18. Saran Singh who was introduced in the latter stages of the last game after a lengthy lay-off through injury is also fully fit and is likely to feature. Left-back Gurjinder Kumar however will miss the game through suspension.
