Mumbai: Mumbai City FC will be eyeing a win when they take on laggards NorthEast United FC in an Indian Super League game here on Friday, even as the race for the top four slots gets closer.
Mumbai has not won the coveted championship so far and hence would be more than eager to be in the top four first and stay in the hunt for their first title. The hosts have four games to go in the league stage and more importantly three are to be played in front of the home crowd at the Mumbai Football Arena. Mumbai, placed fifth with 20 points, had a topsy-turvy campaign so far. They have won five of the 14 games, while drawing five and losing four. A win would help them bag three points and more importantly push them up on the points table. So when the Jorge Costa-managed team take field, that would be the only thing on their mind.
For Mumbai, their highest goal scorer in the season Tunisian Amine Chermiti will have to put up another spirited show and so would Modou Sougou, who had a lackluster season by his standards having netted only thrice from 11 games. If Sougou plays to his potential and fires on all cylinders, he can single-handedly win the game for the home side, as he has done it in the past. Apart from Sougou and Chermiti, Mumbai have forwards like Pranjal Bhumij, who can be quite a handful for the rival defence.
Injured Paulo Machado is out for the entire season, but their other midfielders Raynier Fernandes, Diego Carlos, Rowlin Borges and Bipin Singh, who have a goal each this season, have done well and they would be more than eager to add to their tally and support the likes of Sougou and Chermiti.(PTI)
