Jamshedpur, April 2: Hosts Jamshedpur FC will be upbeat heading into their first-leg semi-final against the formidable Mohun Bagan Super Giant, who will look to bank on their strong away form when the two sides face off in the Indian Super League here on Thursday.
This will be the first time that these two sides meet in the playoffs, with MBSG reaching the last-four courtesy of winning the ISL League Shield, whereas the Red Miners defeated NorthEast United FC 2-0 in the one-legged eliminator.
Jamshedpur FC have not secured a victory in their previous six matches against Mohun Bagan in the ISL, losing on four instances. Another failure to bag a triumph here will make it their longest winless run in front of any opponent in the competition.
Meanwhile, MBSG have been unbeaten on the road in the previous six games, winning thrice and scoring 13 goals in expense of conceding merely thrice.
Avoiding a loss here will not only mark a new club record for their longest such streak away from home in the league, but also enable them to enter the second and decisive leg in Kolkata high on confidence.
Jamshedpur FC have the advantage of making a strong start to the semi-final tie, but they have lost both of their last two games here – with their last longer losing streak at the stadium coming between November-December 2022, of three games each.Jamshedpur FC have seen a purple patch upfront this year, scoring the most goals (22) since the start of the calendar year – one more than Mohun Bagan Super Giant (21), who are the highest scorers in the league with 47 strikes.MBSG have won just one of their last six ISL playoffs matches in regulation or extra time, including a 1-3 defeat to Mumbai City FC in last season’s final.
They will want to set this record straight to clinch the ISL Cup after falling short at the final hurdle last season. (PTI)
