By I-League Media
GOA: The Flaming Oranje host Khalid Jamil’s Mumbai FC in the Hero I-League game week 8 encounter at the Fatorda Stadium on Sunday.
Sporting Clube de Goa heads into the fixture on the back of a 1-1 draw in the Goa Derby, against Salgaocar FC, three days ago. Darryl Duffy scored in the 27th minute for the Greens and a superb second-half strike from local lad Marcus Mascarenhas ensured a point for the Flaming Oranje from the first Goa derby of the ongoing Hero I-League.
Mateus Costa’s side is in search of their first home win even after playing six games in the Hero I-League this season. Once being touted as the dark horses of the competition, Sporting Clube de Goa are sliding away from their chances of challenging for the I-League crown. Matues Costa will surely look forward to better the goal conversion ratio.
The team relies heavily on the ability of Odafa Okolie to produce the goals, but the Nigerian has been left aghast with his team-mates failing to put the ball in the back of the net this season. He is showing real urgency and is dropping deep to set play up by himself.
The forward line comprising of Seriton Fernandes, Odafa Okolie and Mahmoud Al Amna have linked up well so far but the penetration is lacking. If Sporting Clube de Goa defend as they are continuing to do and convert their chances, they can cause many problems to Jamil’s boys tomorrow.
Mumbai FC began the season in an extraordinary fashion and they were regarded as the dark horses from the onset. Spectacular home performances against Salgaocar and Bengaluru FC impressed the plaudits as well. However, in their previous two games, they had to bite the dust against DSK Shivajians in the refurbished Maha Derby and snatched a point against Mohun Bagan at the Cooperage.
It will be interesting to see if Taisuke Matzuke will make his return to the starting XI in tomorrow’s crucial game against Sporting Clube de Goa.
A positive result at Fatorda Stadium tomorrow would surely pave off the path for the winning side. The game kicks off at 07:05 PM.
