FC Pune City has a foot wedged in the door, as far as ISL season four semifinal qualifying is concerned. Another collective heave will ensure the purple-and-orange side’s way into the knockout phase.
Meanwhile, FC Goa is blocking the doorway, engrossed in a must-win situation in a contest between two goal-hungry squads. The home side has scored 28 times in 16 league games against 30 goals by the visitors in 15 appearances.
Goalkeepers at both ends need to be alert and defiant, supported by their respective backlines, otherwise end-to-end action and spectacular goals will be the main course on the menu at Balewadi stadium on Sunday.
FCPC fans have been vocal in praise of home team custodian Vishal Kaith for his shot-stopping ability and confidence in aerial collections. The front-runner in the race for the Golden Glove award this season, Kaith has kept six clean sheets over 13 matches, and beaten only 10 times in a competition where offensive players have had their way.
Ferran Corominas (13 goals, three assists) in 15 games and Manuel Lanzarote (eight goals, five assists) in 14 ties have boosted the visitors’ goals tally.
Corominas heads the Golden Boot list and his individual tally is more than the goals scored by ATK (11) and North East United FC (12) this season. Its midfielders Edu Bedia and Ahmed Jahouh are ball-winners and the duel for dominance promises to be exciting.
With Marcelinho (eight goals, seven assists) showing the way, FCPC possess the attack to hit back.
Ranko Popovic, the home team chief coach, felt that the visitors have quality and remain a threat, regardless of their current position. The Serbian said: “One month ago, FC Goa were the top candidates to top (the league) and become champions. The team is the same, so are the players and coach remain the same.”
FCPC needs a point to qualify, but all-out defence may be risky.