Super Cup: Pereira says Goa may have to start with eight players!

For Goa, Brandon Fernandes, Sergio Juste, and Bruno Pinheiro will be suspended.

FC Goa's stand-in coach Derrick Pereira expressed his frustration on the events from his side's last match, which has left him with a 14-member squad.

FC Goa's stand-in coach Derrick Pereira expressed his frustration on the events from his side's last match, which has left him with a 14-member squad, ahead of the Super Cup semifinal against East Bengal.

A half-time brawl, over a controversial decision against Jamshedpur FC, saw three players from each side red-carded by the match official.

For Goa, Brandon Fernandes, Sergio Juste, and Bruno Pinheiro will be suspended. Midfielder Hugo Boumous and defender Pranoy Halder will also miss the match on Monday, after they picked up their second yellow cards in the tournament.

READ: Super Cup: East Bengal starts favourite against depleted Goa

"Before I talk about tomorrow's (Monday) game, I would like to say that an unfortunate incident happened in the last match. Everybody knows who started it. Our players were suspended for defending themselves," said Pereira.

While Mark Sifneos and Ahmed Jahouh were not registered for the competition, attacking midfielder Manuel Lanzarote, who notched 13 goals and six assists in the recently concluded Indian Super League (ISL) season, is out with an injury.

"Last night, I went on to check my medical room, where I saw three, four players receiving treatment. I am thinking about the eleven (starting XI for the match against East Bengal). It's possible that we may not have 11 players on the pitch tomorrow (Monday) and we may have to start the way we ended the last match (Jamshedpur FC) - with eight players on the pitch," said Pereira.

However, all 14 available players were involved in light training on Sunday. Anthony D'Souza could be in line for his debut, while fringe players Pratesh Shirodkar, Liston Colaco and Mohamed Ali may all possibly be involved.

Dudu gets Ferreira backing

In the opposition camp, East Bengal defender Eduardo Ferreira jumped in support of his team-mate Dudu Omagbemi, who was the subject of racial abuse from his own fans after failing to get on the scoresheet during the match against Aizawl FC.

"How can a (bad) striker score eight goals in 10 games? For me, Dudu is the best striker in this country. He is a hard-working player. We have respect for him and I want the supporters too to respect him. He is a good person and a good professional," said Ferreira.

The Red and Golds' coach Khalid Jamil was confident that Dudu will be in the right frame of mind against FC Goa.