Duler (Goa): A depleted Mohun Bagan, who are looking for their third straight win, will take on Dempo Sports Club in a seventh round match of the Airtel I-League tournament here on Friday.
The Kolkata outfit, bogged down by injuries to key players, has eight points after two wins and equal number of draws and losses.
The Goa club has six points from as many matches and is placed 11th on the points table.
Mohun Bagan failed to get good start in I-League due to the absence of their star striker, Odafe Okolie but wins in their last two matches have raised their confidence and they are looking for a hat-trick of victories.
Key Bagan players like Sankar Oraon, Eric Muranda and inform Katsumi Yusa will be out of action against Dempo, who are strengthened by signing of four AIFF players on loan from the defunct club, Pailan Arrows.
While Oraon is serving one match suspension, Muranda and in-form Yusa are facing health and injury issues.
In their absence, it will be an uphill task for Bagan to notch up their third successive win.
Two Dempo players — striker Alwyn George and midfielder Holicharan Narzary — will play their first match on Friday.
Bagan coach Karim Bencherifa is unperturbed by the absence of key players. “It’s a tough situation against a tough opponent but my boys are well prepared for the challenge and we are hopeful of a win against Dempo which will boost the team’s morale further,” stated Bencherifa.
Dempo, too, had a poor start, losing their opening encounter against Shillong Lajong and drawing their next three matches before putting up a commendable performance against in-form East Bengal whom they defeated 3-1. However, they lost their way in the next match against Bengaluru FC and went down 3-1.
East Bengal look to maintain winning run
Fresh from their inspiring win over Bengaluru FC, East Bengal will be keen to unsettle table-toppers Salgaocar in a round eight clash of the I-League at Kalyani Stadium, Kolkata on Friday.
The match will see the return of Uga Okpara in the backline while Ryuji Sueoka and R Vashum’s injuries will continue to bother East Bengal.
The Kolkata giants are currently seven points behind Salgaocar in ninth place but have three games in hand.
Both teams enjoyed 2-0 wins in round seven with East Bengal beating Bengaluru FC in Kalyani and Salgaocar getting the better of United SC in the same venue.
The three points against Bengaluru ended East Bengal’s four-game winless streak in Kalyani but they haven’t won back-to-back matches in the I-League since February and will be wary of Salgaocar’s consistency as the Goan club have picked 13 points from a possible 18.
East Bengal though have the best goal-scoring ratio so far in the 2013-14 I-League with South Sudan striker James Moga bagging three in as many games.
Despite the absence of first-team regulars like Okpara in the last match, East Bengal still managed to put up a good performance and end Bengaluru’s unbeaten start.
This will be Salgaocar’s fourth straight away game and coach Derrick Pereira will be satisfied with a return of six points from the previous three matches. (Agencies)