ISL 4: Mumbai up against in-form Chennaiyin

Mumbai: Mumbai City will meet an in-form Chennaiyin in their fifth match of the Indian Super League Season Four at the Mumbai Football Arena here on Sunday.

After 2-3 loss to FC Goa in their opening fixture, Chennaiyin trounced NorthEast United 3-0 at home, defeated Pune City 1-0 in an away game and registered a thrilling 3-2 win at home against ATK on Thursday for their third consecutive win.

The hosts will be relieved to be back home again where they registered only win so far, over Goa (2-1).

Mumbai lost away games to Bengaluru FC (0-2) and Pune City (1-2) before managing a 1-1 draw against Kerala Blasters in Kochi courtesy late equaliser from their in-form striker Balwant Singh.

“We are prepared for everything. Most important is for us to control the game. We have showed that we are improving with each game. It’s not easy in Kochi because of the fantastic atmosphere. We have returned with a point which is important. That will give us confidence for the home games,” Mumbai skipper Lucian Goian said.

Balwant scored a stunner against Pune and followed it up with a crucial strike against the Blasters.

Their Costa Rican coach Alexandre Guimaraes has relied on defence to collect points. Goalkeeper Amrinder Singh has made the most saves (16) so far in the tournament and Romania’s Goian has led the other defenders well. But brief lapses in concentration have cost them matches.

For the visitors Jeje Lalpekhlua scored a brace in the last game, lifting the spirits of his team.

They will welcome back their injured midfielder Raphael Augusto who was kept out of last game against ATK as ‘precautionary measure’.

Augusto has already scored twice along with Inigo Calderon. Mohammad Rafi has been on the score sheet once.

“We had a poor first 45 minutes in our first game, but since then we have managed to put together a couple of good results and we desperately want to keep it going,” said Chennaiyin coach John Gregory.

In the day’s second match, Jamshedpur FC will host FC Pune City.

On Saturday, hosts FC Goa thrashed Kerala Blasters 5-2. Coro (48th, 51st, 55nd) and Manuel Lanzarote (9th, 18th) scored for Goa. Marko Sifneos (7th) and Jakichand Singh (18th) netted for Kerala.