High-flying Mumbai will face 2-times winner Chennai in the second leg game of the Indian Football League 2020-21. Chennai would eye to better its position in the table, while Mumbai will look for the strengthen the top spot.
Match Timings: Jan 25, 7: 30 PM IST
Team Preview
Chennai will take on Mumbai in the reverse fixture to pick the rhythm this season. Its campaign has been a roller coaster ride, and in the previous match, they suffered a 1-0 defeat against the Mariners. The defeat hurt its top–four target. Marina Machans got some early chances, but they failed to convert it. In the 9th minute, chances came when Carl McHugh lost the ball to Esmael Goncalves. Esmael Goncalves passed the ball to Rahim Ali, but the shot went wide of the target. Vishal Kaith made a fine save to avoid an early blow as Center-back Tiri send a pass to Edu Garcia, and Javi Hernandez tried a volley shot, but Vishal Kaith saved it. After a goalless first half, the second half started with Chennai’s good attack, but Arindam Bhattacharja survived a crucial phase.
Mariners are known for its powerpack attack in the second half, and they started dominating in the last quarter of the game. Chennai made few substitutes, but in the end, the Kolkata giants drew the first blood of the game. David Williams headed the ball past Vishal Kaith from a Javi Hernandez corner-kick. For the fifth time, Chennai conceded a goal from a corner-kick this season. Chennai are currently standing at 6th, and if they earn three points here, they can equalise 4th placed Hyderabad on points, but victory looks slightly tough for them. A draw will be a big moral victory for Marina Machans.
Meanwhile, Mumbai will play its second leg game with Chennai, and in the previous game, they emerged victorious 2-1. Islanders are in tremendous form, and they are unbeaten since their loss in November 2020 against Northeast. Mumbai have accumulated 29 points from twelve matches, and the unbeaten streak have reached eleven matches, the most by any team in the tournament history. In the last outing, they defeated Bengal to end the debutant’s long unbeaten streak. Mumbai looked solid in the first half, and Bengal were on backfoot. They got the early chance in the 14th minute, but Hugo Boumous lost the chance into an empty net. Islanders scored the goal thirteen minutes later through Mourtada Fall. Adam Le Fondre also got a chance through a cross from Bipin Singh, but he failed to score. The first-half brilliance helped Mumbai get three points, and they have maintained their lead over the Mariners by 5 points. Lobero’s men have now scored 61.11% of their goals from set-pieces. It’s a big strength for the side, and this is the way, Lobero forms its strategy.
Possible Lineups & Current Form
Chennai
Vishal Kaith (GK), Reagan Singh, Eli Sabia, Enes Sipovic, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Deepak Tangri, Memo Moura, Thoi Singh, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Rahim Ali, Esmael Goncalves
Current form: L D W D L
Previous match: 1-0 defeat against Mohun B
Mumbai
Amrinder Singh (GK), Amey Ranawade, Mourtada Fall, Hernan Santana, Vignesh Dakshinamurthy, Cy Goddard, Ahmed Jahouh, Rowllin Borges, Hugo Boumous, Bipin Singh, Adam le Fondre
Current form: W D W W W
Previous match: 1-0 victory against Bengal
Key Players
Chennai
Goncalves
3 goals in Indian Football League 2020-21
Rahim Ali
2 goals in Indian Football League 2020-21
Mumbai
Adam le Fondre
6 goals in Indian Football League 2020-21
Ogbeche
4 goals in Indian Football League 2020-21
