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So here we are. After a long and twisting road to the final there are only two teams left standing in the Hero Indian Super League. FC Goa will battle Chennaiyin FC for the ultimate supremacy, as winners of the second edition of the Indian Super League at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda.
FC Goa will be hoping to break their jinx of never having defeated the Super Machans at Fatorda. The Gaurs’ performances at home have been keeping the FC Goa fans in a colourful mood all season. Twenty thousand fans will throng the stadium & many more fans watching outside will be praying for FC Goa to keep the trophy at home when they face Chennaiyin FC in Goa.
Zico has already proved himself with his tactical line up in the second leg of Semi Final by beating Delhi Dynamos 3-0, tonight will be a sterner test against Marco Materazzi, schooled in Italian catenaccio and by Jose Mourinho himself. As the final whistle blows, the Indian Super League will have a new winner – which team will grab the trophy and give their fans a new song to sing?
Kickoff and Live Telecast
Kick-off Sunday 20th December 2015 7.00pm
Venue Fatorda Stadium, Margao – Goa.
Live Telecast StarSports 2, 3 StarSports HD2, HD3
Live Streaming starsports.com
Team News
FC Goa will be playing with same set of players from semi final who crushed Delhi Dynamos 3-0. Reinaldo, who was out for the second leg of semi final and is not fully fit, might still play a small but crucial role for Zico's team in the finals.
“I think there is no reason to change the game. We have come so far playing this way so we will play the same way. I think we know the team well but we have lost two times. But the final is different. The ground is same, the ball is same. It's 50-50 for both teams,” said Zico during the pre-match press conference.
Chennaiyin FC will be playing with the same squad who lost the second leg of their semifinal but came out victorious on aggregate against the last year’s winner, Atletico De Kolkota. “We were defeated in the last game. Twenty days ago, we were almost eliminated. We were fighting to survive. Now, despite our win here, it’s a 50-50 game,” world cup winner, Marco Materazzi quoted.
FC Goa fans will be expecting more of the same from their semi final scorer Rafael. Mendoza will be the key player for Chennaiyin FC. It will be a tough task for both captains, Lucio & Mendy to handle Mendoza & Rafael respectively.
Probable XIs
FC Goa: Kattimani , Lucio, Gregory Arnolin, Pronoy Halder, Bikramjit Singh, Leo Moura, Jofre, Romeo Fernandes, Mandar Rao Desai, Rafael, Dudu.
Chennaiyin FC : Edel, Mailson, Mendy, Wadoo, Dhana, T. Singh, Khabra, Blasi, Elano, Jeje, Mendoza
Key Battles
Gregory Arnolin vs Mendoza
Gregory Arnolin will have to put in another magnificent display, if FC Goa hope to thwart Chennaiyin’s talisman John Stiven Mendoza. Arnolin has been consistently good for the Gaurs this season, as his passing from the back has allowed FC Goa to dictate play. Coupled with making the most clearances for his side, Arnolin will have to excel at both the offensive and defensive aspects of the game, if FC Goa are to succeed.
Chennayin FC’s pocket-rocket, John Stiven Mendoza has been terrorizing opposition defences throughout the season. The league’s top-scorer scored a hat-trick when Chennaiyin last played against FC Goa in Fatorda. Arnolin and his defensive partners will have to be at the top of their game to subdue Mendoza’s effervescent runs.
Leo Moura vs Elano
Chennaiyin FC’s marquee player Elano was one of the most outstanding players of the first season of ISL and was among the few to be retained this year. Last season’s top scorer, Elano is known for his sublime dribbling skills and deadly free kicks. Although he has not been at his best this season, he certainly will be a player to watch out for in this match, as he hopes to repeat his performance against Goa earlier this season, when he set up two goals and grabbed one for himself too.
Elano will come up against another Brazilian veteran Leo Moura at the centre of midfield. Moura has controlled the FC Goa midfield in the entire season and will look to continue in the same vein. Moura has been the league’s most creative player, notching up 8 assists to his name. The tussle between these two midfield marshall’s will certainly be a treat to watch.
Prediction
The Gaurs are the league’s top scorers and face the Super Machans who are the league’s meanest defence. However, home advantage may just tip the scales towards FC Goa.
FC Goa 2-1 Chennayin FC
