Back on the winning track after a poor start in the Hero Indian Super League 2021-22, FC Goa will face the challenge of sustaining the winning streak. FC Goa will have to take on the in-form Hyderabad FC in their 34th football match to be played at the GMC Athletic Stadium in Bambolin from 9.30 pm on Saturday to maintain the winning streak. Goa FC team would like to complete their hat-trick of victory by winning this match.
If we look at the records of the previous matches played between the two teams, Goa has the upper hand while the current form tilts the match in Hyderabad’s favour. In the last four matches played in ISL, Hyderabad team has been able to win only one match against FC Goa while they have to face defeat in three matches. In their last two matches, Goa ended their losing streak by registering a 4-3 win over SC East Bengal and then a 2-1 win over Bengaluru FC.
The Goa team, led by Spanish coach Juan Fernando, are eighth in the points table and would like to go ahead with a win but it will not be easy in the absence of a key Spanish forward Jorge Ortiz. In the last match, Ortiz had to see his first Hero ISL red card, so he will not be available for the upcoming match. Coach Fernando said, “It is important for me that players play focused for 90 minutes. Injuries and Jorge’s red card don’t matter because they distract the team.”
On the other hand, Hyderabad FC will go into the upcoming match with full confidence after thrashing NorthEast United FC 5-1. This was the second time in the history of Hero ISL that Hyderabad scored five goals in the match. Nigerian forward Bartholomew Ogbeche is on top with five goals so far for Spanish coach Manolo Marquez’s side. Coach Marquez said, “FC Goa is an interesting team. I love their football style. They play like Mumbai City but I think Mumbai is a step ahead of every team. Tomorrow’s match is going to be tough for us. And it’s not going to be easy for Goa either.”
