ISL 2016 Semi-Final 1 (1st Leg) Preview: Atletico de Kolkata vs Mumbai City FC




KOLKATA: Atletico de Kolkata and Mumbai City FC will look for the crucial early advantage as they battle for a place in Hero Indian Super League final at Rabindra Sarobar Stadium, Kolkata, on Saturday.

Atletico de Kolkata players practise

Atletico de Kolkata players practise

Past results and form will not count for anything as the two teams square up for first-leg semi-final battle but neither team will want to hand over the early advantage to the other team. Scoring first will be the key for the teams as in eight out of 14 matches when Mumbai have managed to score first, they have never lost, winning six of them.

Similarly when Atletico de Kolkata have scored first, they have never lost. ATK have won just once when they have conceded the lead.

“It’s one more match against Mumbai. We did a good job against them in the league matches and I have the confidence that my team can win. We have to do a great job in defence (to contain Mumbai strikers) but we also need to do a great job to score the goals,” said Atletico de Kolkata coach Jose Molina.

Atletico de Kolkata’s form at home has been disappointing as they have won just one of their seven matches.  Their eight draws in the league stage has also evoked criticism but Molina promised that his side will continue to play for a win, even when there is a final place at stake.

“We never play for a draw. We play to win every match, always. We will try to win; if we cannot win, we will try to at least draw. We cannot afford to lose,” said the coach.

Mumbai City ran away with the match when they played in Kolkata but Molina said previous results and form will count for nothing as the table toppers take on the fourth-placed team.

“May be people think Mumbai are the favourites because they finished on top and we were fourth but that doesn’t matter,” said Molina.

Mumbai City FC have been in top form during the league stage, finishing on top. There are many who feel the visitors have an advantage for the first semifinal but coach Alexandre Guimaraes looks at the clash differently.

“This is our first time in semi-finals, Kolkata have played twice already. We are excited to play our first semifinal. We are willing to do well like we did during the whole tournament. We know we are going to play against a team that also plays very offensive, like we play, so it’s going to be a series that will be decided in Mumbai,” said the Costa Rican coach.

Mumbai City FC have the best defensive record in the league conceding just eight goals and their attacking line-up can be the envy of almost any other side. Guimaraes is aware of his team’s strengths and believes their identity is what sets them apart.

“We have the confidence that we have been very stable during the whole tournament. There is confidence that the players embrace one idea and play with these mentality in good and bad times. They always stick together to represent one way of play. Our confidence is based upon that; the team has an identity and we have to play to preserve that identity,” said Guimaraes.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Author:

Aspiring Media Enthusiast, Cricket Tragic, Football Fanatic, Avid Reader, Amateur Photographer & Wannabe Sports Writer.

Cricket

US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti enjoys gully cricket in Jaipur

US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti enjoys gully cricket in Jaipur

Posted by: Vikram Kamboj on February 4th, 2024

Jaipur, 04 February 2024: US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti was in the pink city on Saturday where the Ambassador dropped by Rajasthan Royals’ home stadium ..

Football

LALIGA Concludes ‘Extra Time’ Webinar Series

LALIGA Concludes ‘Extra Time’ Webinar Series

Posted by: Pooja Kamboj on May 16th, 2024

Continuing to work alongside stakeholders from the sports fraternity, LALIGA, the world’s largest football ecosystem, brought the curtains down on this se ..

Tennis

Leander Paes inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame

Leander Paes inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame

Posted by: Vikram Kamboj on December 19th, 2023

Former doubles world No. 1 Leander Paes was recently elected to receive the Ultimate Honor in Tennis – induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame &# ..

F1

Life Lessons learned from Sports & Fitness #TOSBDay

Life Lessons learned from Sports & Fitness #TOSBDay

Posted by: Vikram Kamboj on September 26th, 2016

Held on Sept 1st, The Outstanding Speakers’ Bureau (TOSB) Twinterview consisted of sports panelists such as Mark Gallagher (Public Speaker on F1 race), Shayam ..

Boxing

Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker set for huge showdown

Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker set for huge showdown

Posted by: Vikram Kamboj on February 15th, 2018

It looks like it will be a scintillating couple of months for fans of elite boxing. There is the prospect of the rematch between Gennady Golovkin and Saul ‘Ca ..

Other Sports

The 2023-24 Season of the Los Angeles Clippers: A Mid-Season Review

The 2023-24 Season of the Los Angeles Clippers: A Mid-Season Review

Posted by: Vikram Kamboj on February 15th, 2024

As the 2023-24 NBA season approaches the All-Star break, the Los Angeles Clippers have emerged as a formidable force in the Western Conference, showcasing their ..

One stop guide to all the latest sports news, reviews, opinions, fixtures and live scores from India and around the world.

Copyright © 2024 | The Sports Mirror