Indian Football League

Match 30: MCFC vs. CFC

Preview

Mumbai has arguably been the best team in this season while Chennai is the only unbeaten team in the tournament. Thus, when these two teams clash, expect a lot of drama but also some great football. Mumbai has completely adopted what Manchester City is known for. Goals and attacks and Mumbai are doing just like that. Chennai, on the other hand, has been steady and also getting the desired result.

From defense to attack, all the players are contributing to Mumbai's success. Igor Angulo has been a beast for the Islanders and he has been doing exactly what he was bought for. Bipin Singh and Ahmed Jahooh have been supporting the forward well and the goals keep on coming. Mourtada Fall has been a wall in the defense and players like Amey Ranawade and Mandar Rao Desai have also been phenomenal for the team. Right now, their only concern will be Rowliin Borges, who is suffering from a hamstring injury and will be unavailable for selection.

Even after being at the top of the table, Coach Des Buckingham wants more from the team. HE is very cautious and ready for Chennai. In the pre match press conference the English said, “It doesn't matter where you are on the table right now. It matters where you are at the end of the season, so we will take every game one at the time. It's important we didn't get carried away after our first result and we didn't get carried away after the second when we had one win and one loss. So our focus is very much on the next one and we're expecting another tough game from another very good team. They're unbeaten at the moment. The only team left in the league that is unbeaten, so it's a challenge, but one that we've had some time to prepare for and one that we're very much ready for”.

Buckingham being a very young coach has promoted or uplifted Indian talent really well. Speaking about his experience even after being a young coach, the coach said, “I'm a young coach at 36 but this is my 19th season of coaching, so, I've been fortunate in that 19 years to work across a real plethora of different environments with very good people. So part of the remit behind me coming in here was my background and experience of working with youth players. There've been some wonderful youth players I've worked with who have gone on to do some wonderful things, and that certainly was one of the assignments that was to come in here and to take that on. We've said all along that we want the best Indian players, whether they're young or old here at Mumbai, because not only do we want to develop them, we want them to play well with an old style. So, whether it's the young players and having the opportunity to continue developing them or whether it's the senior players, it's very much the same. I think my background in working in that space was a part of me coming here as well”.

Coming to Chennai, the team has impressed everyone. No one gave them a chance to do well but currently they are third in the table and with a win, they can very well move into second position. Anirudh Thapa, the captain of the side is only 23-years-old but is leading the team from the front. If reports are to be believed, clubs like Mohun Bagan and Mumbai are behind him and thus every match will be a big one. Vladimir Koman, the striker of the team has already shown his hunger and dedication for the team and the things he can do with the ball. Defense has been rock solid as well and is the team which conceded the least amount of goals. Thus, clearly it’s going to be Mumbai’s attack versus Chennai’s defense.

MCFC vs. CFC Predicted Line Ups

MCFC – Mohammad Nawaz (GK), Amey Ranawade, Mourtada Fall (c), Rahul Bheke, Mandar Rao Desai, Ahmed Jahouh, Lalengmawia Ralte, Raynier Fernandes, Cassinho, Bipin Singh, Igor Angulo

CFC - Vishal  Kaith (GK), Ariel Borysiuk, Slavko Damjanovic, Narayan Das, Reagan Singh, Anirudh Thapa (c), Vladimir Koman, Edwin Sydney Vanspaul, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Lukasz Gikiewicz

Match Prediction

Even though it’s very unfair to call against Chennai but looks like Mumbai will bag all three points. It’s not easy for anyone to stop Mumbai’s attack and thus they are just a bit ahead of Chennai. However, don’t expect Chennai will surrender. They will fight and with a bit of luck they can bag all three points. 

Suggested Playing XI Real11 Fantasy Football