ISL: Mumbai City FC Seeks Semi-Final Spot Against Hosts Bengaluru FC in Crucial Playoff Match
Bengaluru (Karnataka), India, March 28 (ANI): According to an ISL press statement, Bengaluru FC (BFC) will welcome Mumbai City FC (MCFC) to the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday at 7:30 PM IST for the inaugural one-off elimination match of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 playoff series.
The Blues secured third place in the league table with 38 points from 24 matches, thanks to 11 wins and five ties. In contrast, the Islanders managed to claim a spot among the top six after defeating Bengaluru FC 2-0 in their concluding game and will aim to secure a position in the semi-finals at the same location where they advanced to the playoff round.
After suffering defeats in four of their last five encounters with the Islanders, Bengaluru FC approached this match. This is just the second time these teams have faced each other in the playoff stage, following Bengaluru FC’s victory via penalty shootouts during the 2022-23 semi-finals.
In their past four Indian Super League encounters with Bengaluru FC, the Islanders have showcased strong defense by keeping five consecutive clean sheets and scoring eight goals. Achieving another shutout would extend their longest streak against one team in the league history to match their previous record versus East Bengal FC (a span of five games from December 2020 to 2022). With ten clean sheets so far this campaign—the joint-second highest tally—Petr Kratky can rely on his solid defensive lineup to thwart Bengaluru FC’s offensive efforts.
In the ISL 2024-25 season, Bengaluru FC leads with an average of one shot after every 35.2 passes, which is the best rate among all teams this campaign. To counter this, Mumbai City FC needs to break their passing rhythm, limit their possession time, and prevent them from taking shots.
Sunil Chhetri managed to score eight goals during the ISL playoffs, setting a record as the top scorer in the tournament’s history. His recent form shows he has scored in three out of his past four playoff matches, potentially posing a significant threat to the opposing Islanders team.
The Islanders have emerged victorious in all of their past four playoff matches, making theirs the most extended winning run among any team at this phase of the ISL.
Petr Kratky boasts three postseason victories under his belt. A win today would tie him for second place in ISL history with Sergio Lobera, trailing only Antonio Lopez, who holds six such victories.
So far, these teams have faced off in 18 ISL matches. Bengaluru FC has secured victory six times, whereas Mumbai City FC has triumphed in ten encounters. There were also two ties among those games.
Gerard Zaragoza, the head coach of Bengaluru FC, expressed faith in his team's capability to handle pressure and deliver an impressive performance.
"It’s a whole new ballgame. We’re discussing playoff matches at Kanteerava Stadium. This is a do-or-die situation, and I assure you, we understand how to handle such contests," Gerard Zaragoza stated according to the ISL press release.
Petr Kratky, the head coach of Mumbai City FC, stated that his squad has put considerable effort into addressing their weaknesses.
Petr Kratky stated, 'For me, this contest is entirely distinct. We are now competing for the ISL Cup. We have analyzed our strengths and weaknesses and put considerable effort into improving them.'
Sunil Chhetri has successfully converted four penalty kicks this season and now has the opportunity to be the first player to score 10 goals against Mumbai City FC in the tournament.
Mehtab Singh of Mumbai City FC has averaged 25.91 forward passes per match this season, placing him at third among Indian field players for a single ISL season. Throughout the campaign, he has also contributed with 18 interceptions, secured 51 duels, and completed 97 clearances.
Alberto Noguera, the midfield player for Bengaluru FC, has managed to contribute at least one goal in each of his past three matches played at their home ground. The experienced 35-year-old forward has been impressive so far this season, amassing five goals along with three assists across 22 outings. (ANI)