I-LEAGUE Media Team

MUMBAI: Mumbai FC will be hoping to return to winning ways when they host Shillong Lajong in their Hero I-League encounter at the Cooperage on Friday. Mumbai suffered a 3-1 defeat to Salgaocar last week, a result that ended their six-match unbeaten run.

Mumbai go into the match as favourites, especially because of their tremendous home form. However, Khalid Jamil will be keen to organise his defence, which let them down against Salgaocar. Right back Rahul Bheke has looked off colour in the last two matches and Allan Dias too was disappointing in the defeat to Salgaocar.

Jamil played Kunal Sawant instead of the in-form Nidhin Lal and it did not yield positive results for the side.

Mumbai conceded two soft goals against the Goan side which eventually cost them the points. It will be interesting to see if Lal is drafted back in the squad and if Jamil is tempted to tinker his defence, which has conceded four goals in the last two matches.

Their opponents on Friday, Lajong, too have their own set of defensive worries. They haven’t had a single clean sheet and have been guilty of conceding early goals far too often, a fact that their coach Thangboi Singto has highlighted. “We are struggling in that area (of conceding early goals). We need to keep working on it as we cannot afford to go behind early so often,” Singto had said after the 1-1 draw against Sporting Clube de Goa last week.

Lajong’s defence will be on its toes once again on Friday. Mumbai have played free-flowing, positive football in front of their home fans and striker Josimar da Silva will fancy his chances against a fragile back-line. He will be assisted by the Japanese midfielder Taisuke Matsugae.

Jayesh Rane, who was a part of the India squad for the AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers, returns from the national duty but it isn’t clear if he will be drafted into the squad for the match.

Like Mumbai, SLFC too will be banking on their foreign striker Glen Cornell to deliver the goods to halt the side’s three-match winless run.

Match KO: Apr 3 @ 7 PM IST
 

Hashtag: #MUMvSLFC