Pune, April 6 : Mumbai FC will hope that they can finally grab a win which has been eluding them for long when they meet struggling Air India in the 23rd Round I-League match at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune on Sunday (April 7, 2013).
This time, Mumbai are the hosts and will be eager to prove a point after having lost to Air India early in the season in December, at a time when Khalid Jamil’s side was actually on the upswing.
Currently at No 12 with 19 points from 21 games, Air India are four points ahead of United Sikkim FC (15) and six ahead of bottom-placed Mohun Bagan (13).
A win on the morrow will change equations on the I-League table as Air India could move up with No 10 given that Shillong Lajong FC and Pailan Arrows, who occupy spots above them, have tough matches in this round.
Mumbai FC on the other hand are at No 9 with 27 points, also from 21 matches, and a win will boost their confidence, and also the rankings.
It has been almost three months since Mumbai last won a match and Jamil has been patient for long. Their last win was against Prayag United SC on January 19 and after that Mumbai has lost two and drawn three matches.
As Mumbai await Air India, Jamil is depending on his strikers Yusif Yakubu and ND Opara to give them early breakthrough, same as Air India had done in the first leg of the Mumbai Derby.
The 4-1 win for Air India came about when the airmen raced to 2-0 lead early on leaving Mumbai to do catch-up job all through the match.
Yakubu and Opara haven’t been in great form of late, doing well only in patches. Jamil would like to utilize his resources well as only four matches will remain in this season after Sunday’s game.
Much is expected from Gabriel Fernandes, who had begun the season on a positive note, but has struggled to find the targets.
In the midfield, James Singh, S Kuttymani and Darren Calderia should start with ever-dependable Nicholas Rodrigues.
Faizal Rehman and Haroon Fakhruddin Amiri should take guard ahead of the goalkeeper Luis Barreto.
For Air India, Henry Ezeh and Elijah Junior have done well, but Sandesh Gadkari has been wanting. In the midfield Vijith Shetty and Micky Fernandes have been consistent performers, but it has been almost two months since they last won a match.
Air India’s last win came against Dempo at home, something that they would not forget it and would like to repeat the same performance on the morrow.
A 0-3 defeat to the league leaders Churchill Brothers and a humiliating 0-5 thrashing at the hands of United Sikkim FC at Gangtok are the matches Air India would like to forget and start afresh.
That Air India held East Bengal to a 1-1 draw is something that Jamil would like to remember and push his players to do better.
This time, Mumbai are the hosts and will be eager to prove a point after having lost to Air India early in the season in December, at a time when Khalid Jamil’s side was actually on the upswing.
Currently at No 12 with 19 points from 21 games, Air India are four points ahead of United Sikkim FC (15) and six ahead of bottom-placed Mohun Bagan (13).
A win on the morrow will change equations on the I-League table as Air India could move up with No 10 given that Shillong Lajong FC and Pailan Arrows, who occupy spots above them, have tough matches in this round.
Mumbai FC on the other hand are at No 9 with 27 points, also from 21 matches, and a win will boost their confidence, and also the rankings.
It has been almost three months since Mumbai last won a match and Jamil has been patient for long. Their last win was against Prayag United SC on January 19 and after that Mumbai has lost two and drawn three matches.
As Mumbai await Air India, Jamil is depending on his strikers Yusif Yakubu and ND Opara to give them early breakthrough, same as Air India had done in the first leg of the Mumbai Derby.
The 4-1 win for Air India came about when the airmen raced to 2-0 lead early on leaving Mumbai to do catch-up job all through the match.
Yakubu and Opara haven’t been in great form of late, doing well only in patches. Jamil would like to utilize his resources well as only four matches will remain in this season after Sunday’s game.
Much is expected from Gabriel Fernandes, who had begun the season on a positive note, but has struggled to find the targets.
In the midfield, James Singh, S Kuttymani and Darren Calderia should start with ever-dependable Nicholas Rodrigues.
Faizal Rehman and Haroon Fakhruddin Amiri should take guard ahead of the goalkeeper Luis Barreto.
For Air India, Henry Ezeh and Elijah Junior have done well, but Sandesh Gadkari has been wanting. In the midfield Vijith Shetty and Micky Fernandes have been consistent performers, but it has been almost two months since they last won a match.
Air India’s last win came against Dempo at home, something that they would not forget it and would like to repeat the same performance on the morrow.
A 0-3 defeat to the league leaders Churchill Brothers and a humiliating 0-5 thrashing at the hands of United Sikkim FC at Gangtok are the matches Air India would like to forget and start afresh.
That Air India held East Bengal to a 1-1 draw is something that Jamil would like to remember and push his players to do better.
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