After ‘worst game’, Mumbai desperate for win
:Mumbai City FC will be desperate to get back to winning ways as they host defending champions Bengaluru FC in a big-ticket Indian Super League (ISL) encounter at the Mumbai Football Arena here on Friday.
Mumbai City ended 2019 on a six-match unbeaten run, sitting pretty on fourth spot in the points table. But the turn of the year has seen the team undergo a downward spiral, losing back-to-back matches against ATK and Odisha FC, thereby slipping down a spot for the play-offs contention.
With head coach Jorge Costa watching from the stands due to his suspension, Mumbai City suffered a 2-0 defeat in their previous game against Odisha in what Costa described as the team’s “worst game” under his tenure so far.
“It’s true that we lost the last two games. We didn’t deserve to lose against ATK and the last game against Odisha was probably our worst game in the oneand-a-half years that I’m here. It’s difficult for me. I can’t explain what happened in the last game,” Costa said here on Thursday.
Back on the touchline for the game on Friday, the Portuguese coach will hope his players dish out a much better performance, and they will need to if they are to get past the in-form defending champions.
Bengaluru have bounced back after their defeat against ATK by claiming three points against FC
Goa and Jamshedpur FC. Sunil Chhetri has scored three goals in last two matches, and will be eager to carry his form.
But Mumbai City can take confidence from the fact that the last time they played Bengaluru, they beat them 3-2 in a thrilling contest in Bengaluru.
“Mumbai is a team that makes things difficult for us. They are a counter-attacking team. They pump long balls forward. You need to score first. If they score first, then they will wait and go only in counters. So, we will try and score first,” Bengaluru coach Carles Cuadrat said.
As for Mumbai City, Brazilian Diego Carlos will return after serving his one-game suspension, but Gabonese Serge Kevyn will be out of the reckoning after picking up his fourth yellow card.
CHENNAIYIN FC BEAT NORTHEAST 2-0
CHENNAI: Chennaiyin FC registered a 2-0 win over Northeast United FC here on Thursday to improve its chances of making it to the play- offs. Chennaiyin rode on goals from Rafael Crivellaro and Nerijus Valskis in the 57th and 59th minutes respectively to pocket three points, which takes it to sixth in the points table with 15 points. NEU FC, meanwhile remain in ninth spot and winless in seven games.