Mumbai FC aim for another positive result

Mumbai FC aim for another positive result

Mumbai, March 2:

A charged up Mumbai FC are all geared up and raring to go against defending champion Bengaluru FC in an 8^thround Hero I-League match, to be played under lights at the refurbished Cooperage ground on Tuesday evening.

The Mumbai club, are currently on a roll, having successfully and quite comfortably won the last three games. With this confidence boost and an upbeat mood in their camp, the home side is keen to maintain the momentum to push for another positive result against the visitors.

On the other hand, Federation Cup champions, Bengaluru FC also come into the match on a high with two back-to-back wins, one against Maldives club Maziya FC in an AFC Cup competition match, at home and against cellar outfit Sporting Clube de Goa last week and will expect to continue with their good run of form.

However, the Khalid Jamil coached team, have proved that they can rattle the best in the business and with the kind of support they have finally started to enjoy from their fans by playing at the Cooperage ground, they demonstrated their prowess with a commanding 3-0 win against a formidable Salgaocar SC, Goa and a come from behind 2-1 win over Shillong club Royal Wahingdoh in front of their ardent home supporters. After returning from Pune with another win against Bharat FC, the Mumbai outfit will now once have the backing of legion of spectators who would encourage them to produce another solid performance.

Bengaluru FC coach Ashley Westwood agreed that the spectators turnout makes a huge difference to the match. “The presence of large number of spectators creates a wonderful atmosphere and they motivate us to play good football,” the coach stated at the pre-match press briefing.

Westwood also praised his counterpart Khaild Jamil and the team. “The Mumbai coach (Jamil) is a good coach. He is maturing well and getting down to playing some very good football. They (Mumbai FC) are a tough side and they will win more matches then they did last year,” he mentioned.

Meanwhile, Jamil said that so far things have been good for his team and hope the team continues to play well and win the next match. “Touch wood, we have been doing very well and if we continue to play like we have done in the previous three games we will continue to get positive results,” said Jamil.

Strikers Josimar Da Silva and Mohammed Rafi combined perfectly and worked in tandem with the halfline comprising of the untiring Japanese recruit Taisuke Matasunge, Jayesh Rane, Sampath Kuttymani and Reishami Vashum. The Japanese has been outstanding and won his second ‘man-of-the-match’ award on the trot in the last game against Bharat FC and will once again have a pivotal role to play.

The defence will have to raise the level of their game as the Bengaluru attack is a quality one with Indian skipper Sunil Chhetri along with Shaun Roney, proving to be quite potent. But the cool and composed Chika Wali and dependable Justine Stephen in the company of the hard-working wing backs Ashutosh Mehta on the right and Allan Dias form a formidable defence which is capable of handling the situation. Goalkeeper Nidhinlal A.C. has also done exceptionally well under the bar and shouldn’t be a cause for worry.

If the Mumbai team repeats the performances of the earlier games then it could try for another win which will lift them into joint third place with the Bengaluru side and Royal Wahingdoh, all with 13 points.

The two clubs have met twice earlier and on both occasions the match finished in a 2-2 and 1-1 draw in the I-League last season.