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The 2018-19 season of Hero Indian Super League is about to end, with only the semifinals and finals remaining.
While the first semi-final will see table toppers Bengaluru FC cross swords with first-timers Northeast United FC, the second semi-final will be a clash of ideologies between FC Goa's Sergio Lobera and Mumbai City FC's Jorge Costa.
We call it a clash of ideologies because FC Goa is an all-out attack team whereas Mumbai City FC likes to pounce on the counter. In the league stages of the game, the Gaurs triumphed on both the occasions, first thrashing them 5-0 at home and then 2-0 in their own den.
However, in the knockout stages of the game, individual battles won in the combat zone can turn the tide in a team's favor.
Without any further ado, here are 3 key battles which will decide the outcome of the game.
#3 Coro vs. Lucian Goian
Battles between the star striker of one team and stopper-back of another is a long-established contest which has enthralled the crowd for ages.
And, when FC Goa and Mumbai City FC will lock horns among themselves, all eyes will be on Spain's Ferran Corominas, who will like to add more goals to his name, and Romania's Lucian Goian, who will leave no stone unturned to ensure his adversary's mission fails.
Lucian Goian has 70 tackles and 175 clearances to his name this season whereas Coro has 15 goals and seven assists in his bag.
In the league stage encounters between Mumbai and Goa, Coro scored a goal in both the occasions but it was through penalties. And, the guilty party was Souvik Chakraborty and Subhasish Bose.
Lucian Goian did contain Coro in both the occasions but freed up other players which led to a 5-0 and 2-0 thrashing.
The Romanian needs to take additional leadership duties in the back this time so that threats from others like Brandon Fernandes, Edu Bedia, and Jackichand Singh can be neutralized.
#2 Paulo Machado vs. Ahmed Jahouh
As mentioned before, FC Goa likes to go all-out on the attack, leaving behind only the center-backs and defensive midfielders. This makes the Gaurs susceptible to counter-attack and, Mumbai City FC has scored a staggering 11 goals by deploying that tactic.
It is the responsibility of the attacking midfielders of a team to ensure the counter succeeds whereas the opposition's defensive midfielder's job is to thwart the attack. And, for Mumbai City FC and FC Goa, Paulo Machado and Ahmed Jahouh will don those roles for their respective clubs.
The UEFA Champions League player, Paulo Machado, has started all the games for the Islanders and even has 2 goals and 4 assists to his name. Further statistics like 31 shots, 39 crosses, 1001 touches, and 821 passes only bolsters his résumé.
On the other hand, Ahmed Jahouh has been the best defensive midfielder in the league stages of the game.
The 30-year-old has a total of 102 tackles, 31 interceptions, 33 clearances, and 36 blocks to his name. However, the Moroccan has committed a staggering 31 fouls too.
#1 Jackichand Singh vs. Subhasish Bose
Featuring two players who represented India in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, the next fierce battle is between FC Goa's right winger Jackichand Singh and Mumbai City FC's Subhasish Bose.
FC Goa's prowess lies on the right side of the pitch, with Coro having played as a right winger for Espanyol in the La Liga and Seriton Fernandes being equally effective on the overlap.
The Gaurs have scored more than three goals in three matches- against Mumbai City FC, FC Pune City, and NorthEast United FC- and in all the three cases, they pinpointed the weak left-back of the opposition, namely Souvik Chakraborty, Lalchhuanmawia, and Keegan Pereira.
There is no way Jorge Costa will deploy a makeshift left-back and slot Subhasish in the center. The 23-year-old will have to make the most of his 54 tackles, 19 interceptions, 115 clearances, and 30 blocks to halt Jackichand's pace and trickery down the right wing.
