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Overview
AFC Cup semi-finalists East Bengal finally start their campaign in an action-packed round four of the Airtel I-League this midweek. This matchday promises to be an absolute treat for Indian football fans as four of the six matches will be televised LIVE and perhaps it’s the perfect opportunity to attract new fans also as none of the big European clubs will be in action due to the international break.
East Bengal have been making India proud in the AFC Cup but to be frank, Brazilian coach Marcos Falopa will be judged in the I-League as it is the trophy that the fans and club officials crave for the most. On paper, the red-and-gold brigade have by far the best squad in the league and thus are favourites to win their first title since 2004 but they have a tricky start as they face Lajong in the high altitude of Shillong tomorrow.
Falopa has taken a sensible yet bold decision to rest some key players like Mehtab Hossain, Arnab Mondal as the Brazilian feels that they run the risk of getting burned out ahead of the AFC Cup semi-final second leg against Kuwait SC on October 22. Anything less than a win against Lajong will raise further question marks about the 64-year-old’s squad selection and put him under real pressure. East Bengal also have history against them as they have never won in Shillong with one draw and two defeats in their previous three visits.
Another team that is desperate for a win in Shillong is defending champions Churchill Brothers who take on debutants Rangdajied United. Both clubs have just one point after three rounds with the I-League holders also yet to score in this campaign. Rangdajied’s survival depends heavily on their home form so they would look to cause an upset and pile the pressure on Churchill Brothers technical director Sukhwinder Singh.
Those two games in Shillong are the only two non-televised fixtures of this round. Otherwise the fans can look forward to a double header both on Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday’s telecast kicks off with a mouthwatering Goan derby between second-placed Salgaocar and winless Dempo. It is followed by a clash in Pune where unbeaten Mumbai FC host third-placed United Sports Club.
Thursday’s early televised match sees league leaders Bengaluru FC play their fourth straight home game against Mohammedan Sporting, who lost their first two fixtures. There is no comparison in the history between I-League’s newest club Bengaluru and 122-year-old Mohammedan Sporting but the present tells a completely different story as the JSW-owned club tops the table while the Kolkata giants are rock-bottom. A third straight defeat in their first top-flight season in four years will not go down well with the ever demanding club officials and fanbase of Mohammedan Sporting so coach Moshood Bola Abdulaziz must deliver a positive result.
The round concludes with two unbeaten teams going head-to-head in Pune as Pune FC entertain Mohun Bagan. But the word ‘unbeaten’ is slightly flattering for Mohun Bagan as they drew their first two games. Although both stalemates were achieved away from home, it is still not good enough for the green-and-maroon brigade as they have title aspirations and the success of their arch-rivals East Bengal in the AFC Cup has only increased the pressure on coach Karim Bencherifa. Pune’s new-look side under Mike Snoei impressed in their opening two fixtures and they will be looking to build on that in their first home game of the season.
So just when you football fans thought that boredom would set in due to the international break, there are four LIVE I-League games to look forward to in midweek. Don’t miss out.
Fixtures
Wednesday: Shillong Lajong vs East Bengal (15:30); Salgaocar vs Dempo (15:30, LIVE on Ten Action); Mumbai FC vs United Sports Club (19:00, LIVE on Ten Action)
Thursday: Rangdajied United vs Churchill Brothers (15:30); Bengaluru FC vs Mohammedan Sporting (16:00, LIVE on Ten Action); Pune FC vs Mohun Bagan (19:00, LIVE on Ten Action)
Game of the round
Salgaocar vs Dempo
Salgaocar (in green) won the Goan derby against Churchill Brothers on round 1
Any local derby is always important but this game has extra significance due to the contrasting starts of the two sides. While Salgaocar have won each of their first two games including a Goan derby against Churchill Brothers, Dempo have failed to win after three matches. Salgaocar haven’t taken any time at all to settle under new coach Derrick Pereira, who once again looks set to mount a title challenge with a modest squad but Dempo understandably need time to get over the highly-successful Armanda Colaco era and find the winning formula under Australian Arthur Papas.
Papas was absent in the draw against Rangdajied United as he is in Australia due to visa issues and won’t be available for this game also. The Dempo squad looks one of the better ones on paper but they are still yet to play as a team and would be hoping to finally get their combinations right in this encounter after throwing away a two-goal lead against Rangdajied. Salgaocar have been flawless so far as they are yet to concede with India international goalkeeper Karanjit Singh being in inspirational form while Scotsman Darryl Duffy has lived up to the expectations with two goals in as many games.
Dempo’s two high-profile foreigners haven’t had the impact which the Goan club was hoping for as former Australia international defender Simon Colosimo has failed to earn his team a clean sheet while striker Billy Mehmet, a West Ham youth product, is yet to score from open play.
This promises to be an exciting contest with plenty at stake already even at this early stage of the season as a win for Salgaocar will confirm their status as one of the title contenders while three points for Dempo could kick-start the Papas era.
Players to watch out for
Foreigner: Eric Muranda (Mohun Bagan)
The Kenyan striker has proved many critics wrong with his match-winning performances in the Calcutta Football League and now would be aiming to bring that form into the I-League. With skipper and talisman Odafa Okolie still absent, Muranda has the chance to show that Mohun Bagan can rely on him also.
Indian: Lalrindika Ralte (East Bengal)
Lalrindika Ralte (no.21) would look to get on the scoresheet against Lajong
The Mizoram medio created history in the AFC Cup and now would be aiming to make a good start in the I-League. Lalrindika netted at least five goals in each of the last two campaigns and has the potential to reach double figures this season. A goal in the first game against Lajong will give him confidence to achieve that.
