The pack of entertainers have arrived in town with a view to go back to the summit of the Indian Super League. FC Goa under Sergio Lobero this season have played a firebrand style of football that has seen them score a whopping 14 goals in just 360 minutes of football. Against Jamshedpur FC, the Gaurs face a stern challenge to continue their winning juggernaut and stop Cesar Ferrando and co. at the Furnace.
With four draws on a trot, Jamshedpur FC need to get back to winning ways, starting tonight. But challenges don't come tougher than FC Goa. The good news for Jamshedpur FC is that Goa's chief destructor, Ferran Corominas is suspended for tonight's clash as he received a straight red card for a studs-up challenge in the dying stages of the game against FC Pune City.
Coro's absence will be a huge blow to the Gaurs. Last season's golden boot holder had continued his rich vein of form in this season as well, contributing 10 goals (6 goals and 4 assists) out of Goa's tally of 14. The striker will inarguably be a huge miss tonight but Lobera's side do have the potential to hurt any side even without Coro in their ranks.
Apart from Coro, four other players have got on the scoresheet for FC Goa this season and the onus will be on the otherwise supporting cast of the Gaurs to take centre stage. This game is the perfect opportunity for the likes of Manvir Singh and Miguel Palanca to show their mettle.
Meanwhile, Hugo Boumous and Edu Bedia have been brilliant so far and will be looking to make inroads behind the Jamshedpur FC defence. For the home side, the work done by the outfield players without the ball in tracking the runs of the Goan attackers will be key in deciding the outcome of the match.
As sparkling as their attack is, FC Goa's defence has not yet performed to the desired levels. And this is where Jamshedpur FC can hurt the Gaurs! The centre back pairing of Mourtada Fall and Chinglensana Singh have not looked convincing and the same can be said about their fullbacks.
FC Goa have conceded five goals so far in the campaign and the likes of Tim Cahill, Michael Soosairaj and Sergio Cidoncha possess the tools to make a difference. It has to be said that both these sides have made defensive errors time and again and tonight's victor may well be decided by the side that avoids lapses of concentration in defence.
The biggest player battle of the game will be between our very own, Mario Arques and Goa's Ahmed Jahouh. The two midfielders have been the fulcrum of their respective sides and it promises to be a classic battle of two elegant players go head to head, attempting to dictate the tempo of the play. If Jamshedpur FC can keep Jahouh's influence to a minimum, the Furnace can surely see it's first win of the 2018/19 season.
