MARGAO: FC Goa meet Mumbai City FC on Wednesday in a must-win encounter if they are to qualify for the semi-finals of the Indian Super League (ISL) football tournament.
Goa are placed at the bottom with 10 points from 10 matches. With four matches left to be played they need all points to secure a place among the top four.
Goa defeated NorthEast United FC 2-1 in their previous game with a last minute goal from Romeo Fernandes and will have to be at their best against Mumbai at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Goa can take heart from their impressive performance against Mumbai. They have collected only three points from their four matches at home, losing thrice in a row.
But with Indians Robin Singh and Romeo Fernandes scoring in their last game, they have renewed hope.
Mumbai arrived in Goa after a disappointing 0-1 loss against FC Pune City when midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh scored a goal in the final minute of play, capitalising on a defensive lapse.
The loss stopped Mumbai from going top of the table, pegging them third with 15 points from 10 matches.
But they have picked up 11 points away from home so far, the most by any side in the tournament.
“We are still in a good position but the defeat is a reminder for us that it will not be easy to get into the semi-finals. We will have to play well and fight very hard to get the points to get us there. I am pretty sure the players know the situation,” said Mumbai City coach Alexandre Guimaraes, as per an ISL release.
Delhi Dynamos (17) leads the standings, two points ahead of Kerala Blasters, who are just above Mumbai on goal difference. However, teams like Atletico de Kolkata (13) and FC Pune City (12) can catch-up with them since they have a match in hand.
