While Diego Forlan will return to Indian Super League for Mumbai City FC’s sixth round tie at home on Friday, FC Goa’s marquee player Lucio’s fitness is still being assessed. The face-off between the tricky Uruguayan striker against the assertive Brazilian defender appears unlikely at this point here on Friday at Andheri Sports Complex in Mumbai.
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Goa’s unsettled backline will benefit from Lucio’s presence on the pitch. Zico, whose squad lost three out of its four matches and conceded seven goals, said, “We suffered three defeats, the result could have been different in two matches. Two losses were due to our mistakes rather than play by the other team.” A draw in the previous tie saved the side from further humiliation.
Mumbai City strikers were successful in breaking down rival teams' defence in each of the five games. On Mumbai's match against Delhi Dynamos, Zico pointed out: “One goal scored against Mumbai was offside, the second was not a penalty. The match ended 3-3 due to errors by the referee.”
Alexandre Guimaraes appreciated Goa’s brand of all-out attacking play. “They don’t deserve the results that they have right now. Goa play brave football, courageous football. They qualified during the first season and made it to the final last year playing this style. Now they are down. Sometimes it happens, this is football,” said Mumbai City's head coach. “They are dangerous. We have to be cautious.”
Mastermind by experienced Spaniard Jofre in the midfield, Zico is waiting for the bunch of Brazilians up front to fire for the team and re-discover its last season’s flair. Indian strikers Mandar Desai and Romeo Fernandes, dangerous on the flanks and one their day, can be handful for Mumbai City's defence.
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