FC Goa V FC Pune City : Team News, Tactics, Lineups and Prediction

FC Goa

V

FC Pune City

Fatorda Stadium, Goa
30 October, 2015

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FC Goa play host to FC Pune City in match 25 of Hero ISL season two, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on Friday. While Zico would want to get his side back to winning ways after a 2-0 loss to Mumbai City FC, David Platt will be eager to maintain top spot by emerging victorious against the Goans.

FC Goa were outplayed in their last outing against a Chettri-inspired Mumbai City FC side, but they will have the chance to leapfrog FC Pune City on top of the table with a win against David Platt’s side tomorrow. But Zico’s men have a tough task ahead of them, as FC Pune City are playing to their full potential.

Team News and Tactical Brief

FC Goa

FC Goa are currently sweating on quite a few injuries in the team. Darryl Duffy suffered a knock against Mumbai City FC. Reinaldo, Victorino Fernandes and Jofre are not completely fit, while Keegan Almeida is yet to recover from pneumonia. Brazilian legend Lucio is however to be back in this match and his presence at the back will be a major boost for the team as they look to boune back from the defeat against Mumbai City FC

The Goans are expected to deploy an attacking 3-5-2 formation with the likes of Hoakip and Abranches spearheading the attack in front of Leo. The intricate passing football might work quite well against FC Pune City, who found that brand of football difficult to handle against Delhi Dynamos FC. Romeo has had a quiet season so far for the Guars and will be looking to get back to form in this match.

Probable starting eleven :Kattimini, Greg, Lucio, Luciano; Bikramjit, Lucca, Romeo, Leo, Mandar; Abranches, Hoakip

FC Pune City

Injuries are not a huge concern for David Platt, as both Jakichand and Lenny Rodrigues have recovered from injuries and are expected to start against FC Goa. Uche started alongside Tuncay in the last game, and they both managed to get on the score sheet. Tuncay has been the star man for the Pune based team, but Uche too, is coming into his own as the two form a deadly partnership.

Platt has been chopping and changing his team on a regular basis, essentially to rest his key players as games are flowing thick and fast. But The Englishman will know that Goa are no pushovers, and would want to name his best eleven for this match. FC Pune City will be seen in a 4-1-3-2 formation, with captain Didier Zakora providing protection to the back four and Lenny playing in the hole. Most of FC Pune City’s matches have been at home, and playing a string of games away from home will be the real test for David Platt’s men.

Probable starting eleven : Simonsen, Ravanan, Gouramangi, Colotto, Shorey; Zakora; Gurung, Lenny, Jackichand; Uche, Tuncay

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Prediction

FC Goa 2-1 FC Pune City

The beauty of the ISL is how quickly the pendulum swings. Although FC Pune City are table toppers at the moment, the Goans are not very far off the top themselves, sitting in third spot. David Platt was been constantly changing his team, and he’d have to bear the brunt of not sticking to his best eleven at some point in time. Goa’s intricate passing could cause a few problems to the Pune back line, as they seek their fourth win of the campaign.

Image Courtesy:Indian Super League Media Team