HYDERABAD: The fifth round of the Hero I-League 2022-23 will be headlined by the mouth-watering encounter between Sreenidi Deccan FC and Mohammedan Sporting Club as they face off at the Deccan Arena in Hyderabad on Thursday (December 1, 2022).

Both sides head into the fixture in a rich vein of form, with hosts Sreenidi Deccan flying high after three straight wins, the latest of which came against defending champions Gokulam Kerala FC. Another three points could potentially take them to the top of the league standings. Mohammedan, meanwhile, have come back strong after a sluggish start to the season with consecutive victories at home against Manipuri sides NEROCA FC and TRAU FC.

Their past meetings in the previous season have proved to be quite exciting games as well, with Mohammedan winning 3-1 in the League phase and producing a late comeback to snatch a 2-2 draw in the Championship phase.

Addressing the media at the pre-match press conference, Sreenidi Deccan FC Head Coach Carlos Vaz Pinto stated that his side his expecting a difficult challenge. He said, “My players did well against Gokulam Kerala. They showed commitment, executed the plans well and they are keeping up with the processes we have built since pre-season. But now, that game is in the past and we are focussed on tomorrow. We expect a difficult match for us, but also for Mohammedan. They have a very good squad with many quality players, led by an experienced coach.”

Forward Louis Ogana, currently in his second season with the club, said, “I think I have stepped up my game from last season. We must keep improving as a team. Against Mohammedan, we have to focus and fight to get the three points. We have won our last three games and want to keep the momentum going.”

Mohammedan Sporting Head Coach Andrey Chernyshov mentioned the need to adapt quickly to the new conditions. He said, “Against TRAU, it was not an easy game. We created a lot of chances and the win definitely gives us more confidence as a team. We hope to continue the winning run. Sreenidi Deccan are a very good team and will have the home advantage. For us, it will be the first time playing here at the venue and we need to adapt fast. I expect a tough game.”

Defender Ousmane N’Diaye said, “It was good to win and get a clean sheet in the last game. We were unlucky to not get any positive results in the first two matches but we are improving now and hope to put on a good performance tomorrow.”

The match between Sreenidi Deccan FC and Mohammedan Sporting will kick off at 2 PM IST, and will be broadcast live on Eurosport and Doordarshan Sports, and streamed live on the Discovery Plus OTT platform.