By I-League Media
KOLKATA: An upbeat Sporting Clube de Goa will take on the defending Hero I-League champions, Mohun Bagan at the Barasat Stadium on Saturday.
While the Flaming Oranje went past Mumbai FC in a five-goal thriller last week, the Mariners were held to a 1-1 draw by Shillong Lajong at home.
Mateus Costa’s men had also orchestrated the first real upset of the season when they sieged Bengaluru’s fortress.
Costa though urged caution and said that his team needs to be at their best against them whom he consider a formidable opponent.
Former Mohun Bagan front man, Odafa Okolie will spearhead the Sporting attack while Densill Theobald is expected to return in the midfield. Syrian midfielder, Mahmud Al Amnah has not travelled to Kolkata while Arindam Bhattacharya is expected to start under the woodwork.
Odafa said that he is gunning for all three points against his former team and would leave no stone unturned to raise his goal-scoring tally.
Meanwhile, after the heroics in Bengaluru, Sanjoy Sen’s men wasted chances galore as they failed to garner full points against Shillong.
Cornell Glen cut a forlorn figure in the first half before being replaced by a lively Balwant Singh which ultimately led to Jeje Lalpekhlua scoring the equaliser.
Shankarlal Chakraborty attended the press conference for the Mariners in the absence of Sanjoy Sen who is unwell. Shankarlal was in all praise for the Goan outfit, “They deserve all the accolades for their heroic win against Bengaluru FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. They held their nerves and finally clinched another three points against Mumbai FC in their next game. We would push ourselves harder to clinch all three points tomorrow.”
Pronay Halder is expected to be back in midfield after being rested alongside Katsumi Yusa. Brandon Fernandes might replace Kean Lewis on the wings while Sony Norde is expected to reprise his role down the left.
Mohun Bagan will want to continue their unbeaten run at the top of the Hero I-League while Sporting Clube de Goa would want to live up to their reputation of being giant killers.
