PUNE, Nov 27: After Khalid Jamil had the last laugh when Mumbai FC drew Karim Bencherifa’s Mohun Bagan on Sunday, there is no reason why Mumbai FC can now look for a surge upward and at least a stable position in the middle of the I-League football championship table.
As Mumbai FC prepare for the Round VIII match against ONGC, Jamil without doubt is looking beyond Wednesday’s match. After an away match in Kolkata in the next round, Mumbai FC has four matches lined up at Balewadi Sports Complex ground—a perfect chance to consolidate its position.
And, Jamil can take heart that his Ghanaian midfielder-striker pair of Evans Quao and Yusif Yakubu were at their best against Mohun Bagan. Both Yakubu and Evans must have missed several chances on Sunday, but their control over midfield and upfront inspired others to give their best.
Striker Gabriel Fernandes worked hard but he was a bit rash in his forays, which resulted in nothing, and that equalizer on skipper Haroon Amiri’s freekick gave Abhishek Yadav the much-needed confidence. So far Yadav hadn’t done justice to the several starts he got ahead of others, but the starting lineup against Bagan seems the best Mumbai fielded so far.
Jamil’s only worry should be captain Amiri, who picked up a yellow card for a hard tackle of Snehashish Chakraborty. Amiri moves up and down essaying the role of a playmaker, but then it would be prudent not to react too much in the heat of the moment.
Mumbai FC is currently ranked No 8 with seven points, as does Shillong Lajong and Sporting Clube de Goa, but takes the higher placing by virtue of their better goal difference. ONGC, on the other hand is at No 12 with five points, including that famous win against holders Dempo SC.
With the rounds scheduled so close, it would take toll on the players. While ONGC has landed here from Kolkata after getting swamped 0-5 against East Bengal, Mumbai has stayed put in Pune this whole month. They played their last away match in Goa against Churchill Brothers on October 27.
Mumbai FC and ONGC have met twice in the 2010-11 season with Mumbai winning at home drawing the other. But that statistics is too old to understand what really are strengths and weaknesses of the two teams.
ONGC hasn’t done too bad, though the standings do not reflect so. In the four matches at home, ONGC has won against Dempo and drawn Bagan and Prayag United SC. Their only loss came against Air India as ONGC is currently playing in Delhi, their second home till Cooperage in Mumbai gets all the clearances.
If Saurabuddin Mollick and Jatin Bisht were stars of ONGC’s win against Dempo, the same combination was outplayed by Kolkata giants East Bengal.
Coach Subrata Bhattacharya is hoping to recreate the same form that his wards showed against Dempo. Even at Balewadi, ONGC gave tough time to Pune FC in the season-opener. That sould ensure a good contest on the morrow, even though a win for any team will not shake the top order.
As Mumbai FC prepare for the Round VIII match against ONGC, Jamil without doubt is looking beyond Wednesday’s match. After an away match in Kolkata in the next round, Mumbai FC has four matches lined up at Balewadi Sports Complex ground—a perfect chance to consolidate its position.
And, Jamil can take heart that his Ghanaian midfielder-striker pair of Evans Quao and Yusif Yakubu were at their best against Mohun Bagan. Both Yakubu and Evans must have missed several chances on Sunday, but their control over midfield and upfront inspired others to give their best.
Striker Gabriel Fernandes worked hard but he was a bit rash in his forays, which resulted in nothing, and that equalizer on skipper Haroon Amiri’s freekick gave Abhishek Yadav the much-needed confidence. So far Yadav hadn’t done justice to the several starts he got ahead of others, but the starting lineup against Bagan seems the best Mumbai fielded so far.
Jamil’s only worry should be captain Amiri, who picked up a yellow card for a hard tackle of Snehashish Chakraborty. Amiri moves up and down essaying the role of a playmaker, but then it would be prudent not to react too much in the heat of the moment.
Mumbai FC is currently ranked No 8 with seven points, as does Shillong Lajong and Sporting Clube de Goa, but takes the higher placing by virtue of their better goal difference. ONGC, on the other hand is at No 12 with five points, including that famous win against holders Dempo SC.
With the rounds scheduled so close, it would take toll on the players. While ONGC has landed here from Kolkata after getting swamped 0-5 against East Bengal, Mumbai has stayed put in Pune this whole month. They played their last away match in Goa against Churchill Brothers on October 27.
Mumbai FC and ONGC have met twice in the 2010-11 season with Mumbai winning at home drawing the other. But that statistics is too old to understand what really are strengths and weaknesses of the two teams.
ONGC hasn’t done too bad, though the standings do not reflect so. In the four matches at home, ONGC has won against Dempo and drawn Bagan and Prayag United SC. Their only loss came against Air India as ONGC is currently playing in Delhi, their second home till Cooperage in Mumbai gets all the clearances.
If Saurabuddin Mollick and Jatin Bisht were stars of ONGC’s win against Dempo, the same combination was outplayed by Kolkata giants East Bengal.
Coach Subrata Bhattacharya is hoping to recreate the same form that his wards showed against Dempo. Even at Balewadi, ONGC gave tough time to Pune FC in the season-opener. That sould ensure a good contest on the morrow, even though a win for any team will not shake the top order.
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