Mumbai: Set to play only their second match at the refurbished Cooperage ground here after a long gap, Mumbai FC will face formidable opponents in Salgaocar FC in the sixth round I-League football game on Friday.
The Goan outfit have a splendid league record of five straight victories over Mumbai FC since 2012 and the upcoming clash portends a similar result unless the hosts fire on all cylinders, which they have failed to do so far.
The Khalid Jamil-coached local outfit are winless since five games. But the drawn match in their first real home game after some years last Sunday against Sporting Club de Goa, another team languishing at the bottom of the table, after a string of three losses give Mumbai some confidence.
Besides that, the fact that the match would be played on artificial turf, which Salgaocar coach Derrick Pereira and midfielder Rocus Lamare feel is a difficult proposition, should galvanise the hosts.
“We need to be alert against Salgaocar who are a top side. We have to convert our chances, which we did not do in our last match. The results so far have not been good, but we start afresh,” said Jamil on Thursday.
Jamil hinted that former India forward Abhishek Yadav, included in the 18 for the game, could take the field.
Salgaocar, third in the table with eight points, are coming into the game after beating East Bengal 3-1 in their last tie following a stellar role played by Scottish recruit Darryl Duffy, who scored a goal and helped score another.
“It was our best performance in the league (so far). We converted our chances. Hopefully we will do it tomorrow (Friday),” said Salgaocar coach Pereira.
Asked about the past record against Mumbai FC, Pereira said, “Tomorrow’s match is important. Past record will not help us.”
Asked about the difficulties of playing on artificial turf, he said, “We have trained on it before coming here, but it’s different and a difficult surface to play on.”
Shillong-born midfielder Lamare added: “It’s always difficult to play on artificial turf.” (PTI)
