I-League Media Team

GOA: Dempo Sports Club and Mumbai FC will be locked in a fierce battle to escape relegation when the two teams meet in a Hero I-League clash at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Sunday.

Going into the last four games of the season,  Dempo and Mumbai FC are in the bottom half of the I-League, and both teams will be eager not to hand over the advantage and momentum to the other.

Dempo are placed just above bottom-placed Sporting Clube de Goa with 16 points, while Mumbai FC have an additional point in their kitty and are placed ninth on the table.

“The good thing is that our fate is in our own hands. If we win our matches, we do not have to bother and see how the other teams are faring. I am sure we will be successful, but tomorrow’s game is huge,” admitted Dempo coach Trevor Morgan.

“We have not been impressive in the last two matches against Shillong Lajong FC and East Bengal and we got what we deserved, which is nothing. We have to make amends and start winning,” he said.

Dempo, interestingly, will play all their remaining four matches at home, which will include two games against Salgaocar FC and one against defending champions Bengaluru FC.

Mumbai FC are also fighting to save relegation and coach Khalid Jamil admitted that the match against Dempo on Saturday will be crucial to the team’s survival hopes.

“This is a big  game and we have to win this one. I have seen  my team play in the last four matches and they look determined. There is no doubt in my mind that Mumbai FC will not go down this season,” said the Mumbai FC coach.

Dempo will not have the services of Carlos Hernandez and Haroon Amiri, both of whom have been ruled out for the season, while Nidhin Lal is the only absentee for Mumbai FC.

“We have two more matches at home and that could work to our advantage. We have good support at home and the fact that we lost just two games at the Cooperage means we are in good form when we play at home,” said Jamil.

Kick-off: 17-05-2015@ 4:30 PM
 

Hashtag: #DEMvMUM