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Round-12 Prediction Statistics:
Correct Predictions : 5/7
Exact Score-line : 2/7
Season’s Prediction Statistics:
Correct Predictions : 49/84
Exact Score-line : 22/84
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SALGAOCAR SC
Sahu Maharaj Stadium, Kolhapur
3rd Feb 2011 – 3.30 PM IST
Yusuf Ansari’s boys are slotted at twelfth in the table, moving out of the relegation zone – well at-least for the time being. Yusuf Ansari will be hoping that his team continues with the revival as his boys seem to have hit a purple patch, managing to garner a point against a formidable Mohun Bagan side in the last round at the same ground. So that is two consecutive good results against potential title contenders, and The Airmen need to put in similar gritty and disciplined performance at the back as they welcome another Title Contenders second placed Salgaocar SC, at Kolhapur on Thursday.
Manjit Singh got on the score sheet for the third time this season, proving his worth, and now he takes on his former club. The centre back duo of Dhanachandran Singh and Santosh Koli, along with their goal keeper Kunal Sawant would be hoping to echo similar robust performance. Samson-Manjit-Mputu would be the men to mark for the Salgaocar defenders, as they would be the ones orchestrating most of the attacks for the home side.
Salgaocar SC were the beneficiaries from the last round as they squeezed the lead of East Bengal at the top to just three points, and Karim’s men would be hoping to be equal on points with the table toppers before East Bengal takes on Mohun Bagan a day later in the all important Kolkata Derby. It is a very important match for the Goan giants, as a win at Kolhapur would certainly put some extra pressure on the Red-&-Gold’s scheduled for a tough match.
Veteran Ghanaian Yakubu is back in the team, feeding Sueoka for the solitary goal scored by the Goans in their last round match at the Cooperage ground in Mumbai, completing three victories in a row. Sueoka hit the back of the net for the twelfth time this season, and he has been on the score sheet in last five outings for the Goan club. He would be our man to watch out for, as he would be hoping to increase his tally against flactuating Air India defense, getting feeds from mid-field duo of Tomba-Francis.
TheHardTackle’s Players To Watch Out For:
Eric Mputu (Air India), Ryuiji Sueoka (Salgaocar SC)
TheHardTackle’s Prediction:
Air India 1 – 2 Salgaocar SC
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DEMPO SC
Jawahar Municipal Stadium, Kannur
3rd Feb 2011 – 4:00 PM IST
Kunhikrishnan’s side made the matters worse for themselves as they went down to Indian Arrows who eventually shot down the Neelapadda just before the final whistle in Kannur, handling the Kerala lads their sixth loss of the season. The Kerala side has a daunting task ahead of them as they welcome reigning champions Dempo. There is not much to talk about the Viva side as they rely too much on specific individuals like Anil Kumar, Sabeeth and Chimaokwu. Apart from these players, their performance looks clueless and aimless. Addition of India international Pradeep is yet to flourish, as he partners Shafi and Jimshad in the midfield. Any point from this match would be whole heartedly welcomed by Kunhikrishnan, as Dempo are looking to bring their derailed season back on track and relegation threat is looming large over Viva Kerala.
Dempo SC thumped the Bangalore side HAL in the previous round as they avenged their humiliating loss to The Pilots. Out of form striker Ranty Martins got back to his usual best, as he scored a brace and Brazilian Mendes Silva slotted the other one in a clinical performance at Sri Kanteerva Stadium, Bangalore. Dempo are placed at fifth in the table as an outcome of a very ordinary season for the Goan giants so far.
Coach Armando Colaco would like his players to continue from where they left at Bangalore and with Indian internationals back from their national duty, he has the full squad available to select from. On the other hand, the Desi Blues needs to gel and synch together in order to pose any threat to the title challengers.
TheHardTackle’s Players To Watch Out For:
Bello Rasaq (Viva Kerala), Ranty Martins (Dempo SC)
TheHardTackle’s Prediction:
Viva Kerala 1 – 1 Dempo SC
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CHURCHILL BROTHERS
Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata
5th Feb 2011 – 1:45 PM IST
The Durand Cup Champions got back to winning ways when they beat ONGC FC in the previous round with all the influential players getting on the score sheet. Junior Elijah got on the score sheet after an injury lay off and assisted the other two goals for Josimar and Lalkamal. Denson Devadas got the other goal completing the rout of the institutional side from Mumbai. The Kolkata side welcomes the Goan giants Churchill Brothers at YBK in a very crucial tie for both the sides. The hosts are a good five points behind the former champions and would be hoping to reduce that gap
Churchill Brothers play their second consecutive game at YBK in as many weeks, which could actually give them a slightest of advantage over their hosts in this tie. Kiwi striker Kanye Vincent scored in dying moments in another top of the table clash to clinch a point off the table toppers East Bengal in the previous round. Kanye Vincent’s signing from Mumbai FC has proved to be a master stroke by Churchill as he has filled in the absence of influential skipper Odafa. Steven Dias was on the money with his crosses in last match and Gourmangi also chipped in with some important interceptions. The midfield of Dias-Zakeer-Bineesh-Dinesh would be hoping to showcase the same performance feeding tempting balls to Kanye and Odafa. Churchill would be keeping their fingers crossed as they hope the return of star strikers Odafa and Mohd. Rafi. The Goan giants would remain at third position in the league with a win, but would certainly put pressure on East Bengal as they play late on Sunday.
TheHardTackle’s Players To Watch Out For:
Elijah Junior (Chirag United FC), Steven Dias (Churchill Brothers)
TheHardTackle’s Prediction:
Chirag United 1 – 3 Churchill Brothers
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JCT FC
Sahu Maharaj Ground, Kolhapur
5th Feb 2011-3.30 PM IST
Khalid Jamil’s side lost their fourth tie in the league as they missed out on the chance to close in on Churchill Brothers for the third spot. The Essel Group backed side went down to an impressive Salgaocar in round twelve to a single goal. Khalid Jamil’s side did play well in the previous round clash, but in patches. They welcome the Ludhiana side to Kolhapur looking to garner all three points from this fixture. The Mumbai side welcomed the lanky Abhishek Yadav in their ranks, and he would be our man to watch out for as he would be eager to get into I-league goals scoring party.
Sukhwinder Singh’s side will be looking to bounce back after his side registered back to back defeats in the league, following a good spell which catapulted the Ludhiana side out of the danger area. The millmen desperately need some points from this match as they hover just over the drop zone and good results for other sides around them would once again see relegation threat loom large of the inaugural winners. JCT FC hasn’t hit the back of the net in their last three games, which seems to be the main problem for the side. Good spells of possession seem to just disappear into nothing substantial for Sukhi’s side. The Strikers need to pull up their socks and muster some points for the team.
TheHardTackle’s Players To Watch Out For:
Abhishek Yadav (Mumbai FC), Keke Ibrahim (JCT FC)
TheHardTackle’s Prediction:
Mumbai FC 1 – 1 JCT FC
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INDIAN ARROWS
Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
5th Feb 2011 – 7:00 PM IST
Red Lizards’ disastrous losing streak in I-league was revived by striker Mandjou Keita, as the Guinean striker found the back of the net thrice to help the Pune based side to register a 4-0 victory over JCT Mills in the last round. Aseem Hassan scored the other one with a 35 yard scorcher. The presence of India Number one Subrata Pal back in goal was influential and quite evident for the team as they kept a clean sheet.
Derrick Pereira’s side would welcome Indian Arrows to the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune as they look to hoard some valuable points and move away from the drop zone. The Parimal Group backed side is currently slotted at tenth with 11 points after 12 rounds, two points behind their rivals, Indian arrows, which makes this tie crucial for both the sides. Kieta would be our man to watch out for as red lizards look to take advantage of the home support and Derrick Pereira would want another clinical and gritty performance against vastly improving Indian Arrows.
Desmond Bulpin’s Indian Arrows hunted down Viva Kerala at Kannur courtesy a Subodh Kumar goal in the dying moments of the match. The young Indian brigade has slowly and maturely moved up the table, stealing points in draws and occasional victories. Bulpin’s side travels to Pune in hope to improve their win record on the road after some robust performances at Gurgaon and Kannur helped them to maintain a healthy gap of points between themselves and the relegation zone. With Gurpreet singh Sandhu back in goal for the Arrows, he would be our man to watch out for, as his team takes on the Pune side hoping to create another upset.
TheHardTackle’s Players To Watch Out For:
Subrata Pal (Pune FC), Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Indian Arrows)
TheHardTackle’s Prediction:
Pune Fc 1 – 0 Indian Arrows
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ONGC FC
Sri Kanteerva Stadium, Bangalore
6th Feb 2011 – 3.00 PM IST
Thyagraj’s HAL will take on ONGC in the bottom of the table clash, at Bangalore on Sunday. Bengaluru lads have lost both of their home matches so far, which has seen Thyagraj’s side slip to 11th spot after an impressive start to the I-League campaign. HAL lost their last round match to holders Dempo, with the hosts putting in an insipid performance, registering their seventh loss of the season. They welcome fellow strugglers in ONGC FC and HAL will be looking to onboard some points from this tie and stay away from the drop zone. Thyagraj would like his front men and midfielders to make full use of this tie to bring back the confidence, which seems to have disappeared away.
ONGC have never looked comfortable in the I-League and are placed at the bottom of the table with mere 7 points. Three points will be the key for Subrata Bhattacharya’s (Jr) side in order to revive their ordinary journey in I-league so far and to take them out of the relegation zone. The old horse Babatunde scored a brace for the Mumbai side as it seemed that Subrata’s side would launch a fight back, just to see Durand Cup champs score 2 more. He would be influential to ONGC’s chances to get any points in this match as well, as he looks to link up with fellow striker ND Opara for the goals.
TheHardTackle’s Players To Watch Out For:
RC Prakash (HAL FC), ND Opara (ONGC FC)
TheHardTackle’s Prediction:
HAL FC 1 – 2 ONGC FC
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EAST BENGAL
Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata
6th Feb 2011 – 1:45 PM IST
Undoubtedly the biggest match in Indian football, the all important Kolkata Derby kicks off at Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Sunday, as Mohun Bagan welcome table topper East Bengal. The Red-&-Gold army sit at the summit of the league with 30 points from 12 games. East Bengal would be looking to bounce back from a 2-2 draw played out in the last round against Churchill Brothers, conceding in the dying minutes. It was once again a tale of sensational mid field- overlapping full backs build up and missed chances in front of the goal for Morgan’s men.
Trevor Morgan would hope that the derby atmosphere doesn’t get to his young brigade as they haven’t had much of a derby experience. Sanju-Mehtab synching with Naoba and Soumik has been a revelation for the Red and Gold. Robin Singh would be missed as he is out suspended. Tolgay Ozbey would be our man to watch out for, as the Australian is in red hot form to face the former champions in the most awaited match in I league so far. The newly signed Brazilian striker Leko might get a look in alongside Tolgay in the attacking third and he may prove to be a surprise package.
The Mariners find themselves slotted at Sixth in the table after they managed to hoard just a single point against Air India at Sahu Maharaj Ground. Subhas Bhowmick’s side would be having revenge on their mind as they welcome their neighbors, after their hattrick of losses against them, most recently in Kolkata league penaltimate round this year.
The Green-&-Maroon brigade would be hoping to capitalize on the goal scoring form of star striker Edeh Chidi. Barreto suffered a head injury and would be doubtful to start in this important match. The Mariners are yet to register a win against East Bengal this season. The midfield battle of Manish-Souvik-Jayanta up against the formidible Mehtab-Penn would be one of the match deciding key battles on the pitch. Chidi has been in scintillating form scoring six goals since his late inclusion in the squad. Subhas Bhowmick would be hoping that a win here would bring their dibly-dobly season so far back on track and a win here may motivate the former champions to start challenging for the crown.
No doubt that this match does not depend on previous form as any team could just rise up to the occasion in front of a colossal Yuva Bharati crowd.
TheHardTackle’s Players To Watch Out For:
Chidi Edeh (Mohun Bagan), Mehtab Hussain (East Bengal )
TheHardTackle’s Prediction:
Mohun Bagan 1 – 1 East Bengal