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Mumbai City will face Goa at the GMC Bambolim Stadium on Monday to decide the first finalist of the Indian Super League 2020-21 season.
In the first leg at the Fatorda Stadium, both teams scored twice, with star players Igor Angulo and Hugo Boumous finding the back of the net in the first half. After the break, defenders Saviour Gama and Mourtada Fall scored for their team to end the night at parity.
The mighty Gaurs finished fourth in the league table with Juan Ferrando overseeing a big rehauling of the squad as multiple star players, including skipper Mandar Rao Dessai, Hugo Boumous, Ahmed Jahouh, and manager Sergio Lobera switched loyalties to City.
Angulo’s 14 goals and Alberto Noguera’s 8 assists kept Goa in the running for the knockout stages, and the defence marshalled by Ivan Gonzalez ensured that they crossed over the line.
The Islanders won the League Winners’ Shield as they finished top of the league table with 40 points and a superior head-to-head record against ATK Mohun Bagan.
The quintet of Adam le Fondre, Boumous, Bartholomew Ogbeche, Jahouh, and Bipin Singh has contributed to most of Mumbai’s goals allowing the Islanders to score the most number of goals in the ongoing ISL season.
Team News
The Mumbai manager will be looking forward to welcoming back the key duo of Amey Ranawade and Hernan Santana in defence after the former served his suspension in the first leg of the semi-final.
Rowlin Borges was left out of the first leg as well due to fitness issues, and the Goa-born midfielder might return to the starting line-up in the second leg.
The overseas duo of Gonzalez and Noguera returns for the second leg of the crucial semi-final after missing out on the first leg due to suspension. Brandon Fernandes will return to the matchday squad for Goa but will be limited to a substitute appearance at best after missing out on a big chunk of the ongoing league season due to injury issues.
Seriton Fernandes was taken off the pitch after playing only 35 minutes in the first leg of the semi-final, and the right-back is expected to be ruled out for a month.
Key Players
On Friday, Ahmed Jahouh was given the task of a central defensive midfielder with the attack-minded Raynier Fernandes playing alongside the Moroccan midfielder in the double pivot. The 32-year old could be given a bit more freedom in the second leg if Borges returns to the playing XI to assume the role of the holding midfielder.
Edu Bedia has orchestrated the Gaurs midfield the whole season, and the Goa skipper would be expected to do the same with Glan Martins playing as the enforcer whilst Noguera creates chances for the attackers in the final third of the pitch.
Igor Angulo was tasked with filling the goalscoring boots of Coro, and the veteran striker has done a fine job by finding the back of the net whenever Ferrando’s team has needed it the most during the ongoing season.
Prediction
Mumbai City would be looking to do the double and lift the coveted ISL trophy after winning the shield last week. Lobera has transformed the Islanders into a winning machine, and he would love to reap the rewards at this stage.
Goa has not won the ISL trophy despite reaching the semi-finals stage five times in the last six ISL seasons, and the Gaurs would do everything to change their fortunes this time around.
