ISL 4: FC Goa eye double against Chennaiyin

Margao: FC Goa will look to draw inspiration from their first-leg performance when they face Chennaiyin FC in a crucial Indian Super League match here on Wednesday.

Goa began their campaign with a 3-2 win over Chennaiyin in Chennai and will want to emulate that performance to stay afloat for a place in the playoffs.

They have impressed with attacking play, having scored 29 goals, one less than table toppers Bengaluru FC. But their porous defence has conceded 25 goals to peg them back sixth spot with 20 points from 13 matches.

They have collected just a point in the last three matches to leave their coach Sergio Lobera a worried man.

Lobera said the next two matches, to be played at home, were crucial for his side.

“We need to win these two matches to keep ourselves in the race for the knockout stage. The important thing is to bring back the confidence of the team and we are working on our mistakes and hopefully we do not repeat the same mistakes and come out victors,” Lobera said on Wednesday.

“In the last three matches, we did not have our key players in different positions. Against Mumbai City, we played with ten men and that made the difference. In the next two matches, we did not have our key players due to injury and red card and that’s how we could not win matches. Now that all are fit we are looking to win our next two home matches which will help us stay in the top four,” he said.

Chennaiyin are fourth with 24 from 14 games. They have also been inconsistent and will look to for three points to make their position comfortable in the race for the playoffs.