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The weekend begins with an exciting encounter as a rather inconsistent FC Goa host impressive looking FC Pune City outfit. Goa’s Brazilian coach Zico has not lost any hope of his team making it to the semi-finals. And he is counting on the three home games, first of which will see the Robert Pires led outfit lock horns against the team from Pune. Zico has been adamant that 9 more points should see his team through and the man touted as White Pele is eyeing the three home games to produce just that.
FC Pune City haven’t been able to produce good results with a goalless draw against NorthEast United FC and a 3-1 loss to Chennaiyin FC being their last two results. As a result, Pune who had got into the top 3 now see themselves 5th with Mumbai City FC and Kerala Blasters having made the move up. It is a crucial game for either team with both looking to set out for a win is what makes the weekend game one to look forward to.
Form Guide (last 5 games)
FC Goa: D-W-L-L-L
FC Pune City: L-D-D-W-W
Goa has had a roller coaster ride in the tournament with the team managing to do well in certain games, while they have been drab and lost for ideas in the other. They seem to be back on track, but the poor form of their current crop of strikers and absence of a lethal goal poacher in front has been costing them dear. The team would rely heavily on Tolgay Ozbey to get the goals.
FC Pune City have had an indifferent season with the first couple of games making them look like the team to finish bottom. Their rise up has been unbelievable, but the recent loss of momentum at such a crucial juncture in the game is something Franco Colomba would look to change in his team.
Kick-off
November 9, 2014 – 4:30 pm (IST)
Possible starting line-ups
FC Goa (4-1-4-1): Jan Seda; Debrata Das, Youness Bengelloun, Gregory Arnolin, Narayan Das; Bikramjit Singh;Robert Pires, Andre Santos, Mandar Rao Desai, Gabriel Fernandes; Tolgay Ozbey
Goa look set to draw the same team given that recent performances have been heartening. While Seda would continue to guard the sticks, the French centre pairing of Arnolin and Bengelloun would hope to thwart the threat posed by Dudu and Trezeguet. The full-backs in Narayan Das and Debrata Das would not only need to apply brakes to Gurung and Pennant, but would also need to contribute on the attacking front.
Bikramjit Singh looks set to again do the dirty work with a box-to-box role, while Pires and Santos would need to drive the team forward and get in behind the frontman Tolgay Ozbey. Mandar and Gabriel on the other hand would be expected to give the width to the side as well as cut-in inside at opportune times.
FC Pune City (4-5-1): Arindam Bhattacharya, Pritam Kotal, Bruno Cirillo, Daniele Magliocchetti, Dharmaraj Ravanan, Lenny Rodrigues, Kostas Katsouranis, Davide Colomba, Israil Gurung, Jermaine Pennant, Dudu
Pune are expected to go in with a similar setup and would welcome back Lenny Rodrigues to the team. Arindam Bhattcharya has been solid, guarding the sticks, while their defence has too stood tall on more occasions than not.
Jermaine Pennant is still to get into his groove, but Colomba would be hoping that today is just the day he rises to the occasion. Kostas Katsouranis would need to get back to his goal scoring form, while Dudu is expected to take back his place from the Frenchman David Trezeguet.
Key Battles
Arnolin and Youness vs Dudu
Dudu comes on the back of a few good performances, having scored a couple of goals and adding the physicality to the team to outmuscle the opposition defences. Dudu is not only someone who boasts of a powerful left foot, but is also dangerous in the air and can feed balls through.
Though the FC Goa defensive pair have been usually solid, there have been moments in the game where they seem to have lost some concentration, and this is when exactly Dudu might look to pounce. Arnolin and Youness will need to bring the physical aspect to their game if they are to stop Dudu.
Katsouranis vs Robert Pires
How many times have we heard that battles are won in the midfield. This is exactly what might happen today with Katsouranis and Pires both trying to drive their teams forward. Pires looks to have got some steam back, while Katsouranis too has hit form and this is just what makes it even more exciting today. The player which manages to control the game and the momentum of it for his team is likely to hand the laurels to his respective team.
Gurung vs Narayan Das
Israil Gurung has been one of the most impressive young Indian players in the tournament. The former Mohammedan Sporting man has pace and can get in through defences to give them trouble. Narayan Das who likes getting forward will need to keep a check on Gurung, while Gurung would too need to track back and check the young left-back’s runs.
Prediction
FC Goa 1-1 FC Pune City
