Mumbai FC hope to play for a point

Mumbai FC hope to play for a point

Mumbai, April 6

Mumbai FC have a tough task on hand when they take on Bengaluru FC in a 15^th round I-League match at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru on Tuesday. Playwin is the official sponsor of Mumbai FC.

The Khalid Jamil-coached Mumbai outfit has not had much time to recover from the shocking 6-0 defeat suffered against Shillong Lajong at home last Friday. The team is also facing several injury worries with some of their key players – inspirational Japanese midfielder Taisuke Matsugae and young dashing striker Jayesh Rane, who both missed the last game are yet to recover from their injuries and will sit out for this crucial game.

To further add to coach Jamil worries is that their dependable stopper back Justine Stephen, who along with Nigerian Chika Walia have done well in defence except in the previous round, is also expected to miss the match due to a stomach problem.

Despite all these problems Jamil, who took full responsibility for the dismal performance in the last match in Mumbai, had said in the post match media conference that the defeat against Shillong Lajong was like a bad dream and would quickly like to forget it. But it now has to be seen as to how well the coach manages to make his players believe that they are capable of bouncing back and getting at least a draw if not a win.

In the last meeting between the two teams, Mumbai did well to share honors in a 1-1 draw with goalkeeper Nidhinlal A.C. making a series of outstanding saves to deny the Bengaluru strikers from adding to the scoresheet. Jamil will once again hope for another standout performance from his goalkeeper and hope for a positive result.

"I have always told my players that we have to go out and try to win every game but tomorrow's game is different. I would be happy if we even manage to take one point from it, that is enough. The important thing is to quickly forget last week's result and treat this as a fresh start. Once the game begins and the confidence builds, we will see where it takes us," Jamil mentioned at the pre-match briefing.

Mumbai are currently placed in seventh position with 12 points from 11 outings, three of which they have won in contrast to champions Bengaluru who from 12 games are on 21 points the same as Royal Wahingdoh, but are placed in second position behind leaders Mohun Bagan by three points.

The match in Bengaluru is scheduled to start at 7pm.