The Goan Network
Margao
Last year's runners-up FC Goa will cross swords with Mumbai City FC in a must-win situation in the Indian Super League at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Wednesday. The loss against Mumbai team could dent their hopes of qualifying for the semi-final.
The top four teams in Hero ISL will qualify for the knock-out stage at the end of 14 league matches. Delhi Dynamos are at the top with 17 points and FC Goa are at the bottom with 10 points but with four matches still left to be played, no team is guaranteed of a place in the play-off and no team can be ruled out at this stage.
FC Goa coach Zico said that the last three matches in Indian Super League are the "most important" as teams keep their fingers crossed and work towards a place in the semi-finals. It's a point that Zico emphasied a lot as FC Goa prepare to thwart the ambtion of Mumbai City FC.
FC Goa is the first team to field nine Indian players in the ISL after they lost six foreign players due to suspension and injury and managed to
overcome all the odds and score their first win at home against NorthEast United FC. Coach Zico was relieved after his team won the match. "I had faith in my boys that they would fight against all the odds and come out victors which they achieved. Now they need to take inspiration from the last match and continue to win the remaining matches in order to qualify for the semi-finals,” stated Zico.
"For us every match is a do or die game and our boys are conscious and will give their best to win all the remaining matches to qualify for the semis," stated Zico, adding: "Every match for us is a final and the win has given us hope to play better and I have kept the boys motivated asking them to be more focussed to win the remaining matches," stated Zico.
"Everyone has expectations to win a place in the play-off. At the moment, all teams are hoping to qualify and we could have tough matches ahead. We expect Mumbai City FC to play strongly. This is the most important stage of the league. We are expecting to face a strong Chennai,” said Zico .
FC Goa would seek confidence that they won the previous match against the NorthEast at home and are determined not to lose their focus.
“Our intention now is to play high-intensity games, like in top competitions,” said Zico.
In a response to a question as to how many Indian footballers would be fielded for the match, Zico ginned: “It’s the FC Goa. Players are never selected on basis of the country or region. It’s about 11 players wearing FC Goa shirt on the field.”
Goalkeeper Laximani Kattimani who was rock solid under the bar and was instrumental in the win over NorthEast United pulled off spectaular saves. That win was achieved in the absence of their suspended defender Luciano Sobrosa and Gregory Arnolin. Playmaker and Spaniard Joffre who missed the last match due to injury is expected to partner Trindade Goncalves in the centre of the park.
