ISL 2015: NorthEast United FC vs Atletico de Kolkata - Preview

NorthEast United take on defending champions Atletico Kolkata in the Indian Super League football on Friday.

Guwahati: Having earned their first points of the season with a dramatic win overChennaiyin FC in their previous match, NorthEast United take on defending championsAtletico Kolkata in their third straight home match of the Indian Super League football here on Friday.

NorthEast scored a 2-0 win over Chennaiyin in an ill-tempered match with the goals coming in the last minute of normal time and in the injury period, and they hardly had any time to savour the dramatic victory.

Having lost three matches in a row and looking a bit rattled, coach Cesar Farias had to pull a rabbit out of his hat and he managed 

to do that despite having several players injured. Despite the win, NorthEast are still at the bottom of the eight-team league table.

Marquee player Simao Sabrosa played his first match for NorthEast and scored a penalty, that too under pressure. With a victory under their belt, Farias believes things will now fall into place.

"I am happy with the performance of my players against Chennaiyin FC. We now have a crucial game coming up next against the defending champions and we need to put in our best effort. I hope it will be a packed house on that day," said Farias.

Sabrosa, the former Portugal and Barcelona winger, would be looking to spark his team's revival against the defending champions tomorrow.

Atletico de Kolkata are also a strong side and Antonio Lopez Habas' teams are always difficult to break down. Having lost to FC Pune City in their last match -- an unusual setback for the defending champions -- Kolkata will be keen to make amends.

"We have to have confidence in the team because before the game (against Pune), Atletico de Kolkata was the only one team unbeaten. I know people will say this was bad and catastrophic, but the idea is to get to the final four. We will battle games mentally and physically," said Habas.

The coach did not seem happy with his players after the game in which FC Pune City scored in the second minute and then held on resolutely for the remainder of the match.

Habas admitted his "mistake" in selecting the line-up against Pune and gave enough indications to suggest there will be changes.

NorthEast United FC replace midfielder Kondwani with Lopez

NorthEast United FC on Friday roped in Carlos Javier Lopez to replace injured Kondwani Mtonga.

Guwahati: Indian Super League (ISL) franchise NorthEast United FC on Friday roped inCarlos Javier Lopez to replace injured Zambian midfielder Kondwani Mtonga.

“Kondwani had suffered an ACL strain and meniscal injury which has ruled him out of the competition this year,” said a release from the franchise.

Lopez is an Argentine medio who has played in clubs like Tiro Federal (Argentina, 2010-2011) and Deportivo Italia (Venezuela, 2009-2010). 

At the start of his career he had plied his trade for Mexican outfits Pachuca (2001-2002) and Merida (2003-2004). His last club was Deportivo Anzoátegui (Venezuela).

India Super League: FC Goa Looking To Forget Home Defeat To Chennaiyin FC, Ahead Of Key Clash Against Kerala Blasters FC

As the Indian Super League (ISL) table starts taking a definitive shape, FC Goa gets ready to host Kerala Blasters FC, in a match that can be called the West Coast Derby, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in Fatorda, Goa, on Thursday.

Both the teams are rallying around the mid table currently, and seem to be rallying around, to take a spot in its top half, of the top-four. A couple of wins on two consecutive days, by bottom to sides Mumbai City FC (against Delhi Dynamos FC) and North East United FC (against Chennaiyin FC), have made the table a bit more compact and competitive, which is why this match will be of great importance to both Goa and Kerala.

FC Goa, who are coached by legendary Brazilian Zico, could go to the top of the table, if they can get the win against Kerala Blasters FC. Meanwhile, the Blasters, who are baste out of Kochi, can leapfrog Chennaiyin FC and FC Goa, into the fourth place, if they can get a win out of this match.

Zico however, would be on the guard, as his team have experienced a host of different fortunes in their home matches so far, with a win, a draw, and a loss at the Fatorda Stadium. In fact, their 4-0 loss at the hands oc Chennaiyin FC would have dealt a killer blow to their confidence, as it was in front of their home crowd.

Although FC Goa won their last match 3-1, away at NEUFC, Zico warned his players that home matches could get especially difficult, in the ISL, and pointed out their recent 4-0 loss to Chennaiyin FC, as a rather damming example.

He said, “We played here, we lost 4-0, it was really heart-breaking. But we had many chances. If it was 4-3, 4-2, the loss against Chennai, which is a good team, it wouldn’t have been a big problem. But 4-0 was bad. One thing again is that teams that are playing away are getting the results. So now every time you are at home, you have to be doubly careful!

“Even after the game I talked to the players and I was very strong with them because we know the rules, we know that the goal difference is very important, but we have to keep working this way, and we will get the result,” continued Zico. “We cannot come to the end of the league and then regret the goals that we missed. So we have to do the best we can and make the most of the opportunities that we have.”

Kerala Blaster FC are also coming on the back of a poor run of form, losing their last twos matches to Atletico de Kolkata and Delhi Dynamos FC. However, speaking to the press on the eve of the match, Blasters assistant coach Trevor Morgan said that in spite of the bad run, the team’s main goal of reaching the semi finals remains the same.

He said, “We know we’ve started the season well but we have not been consistent in our last two performances, but like I’ve said before, I’ll just say this, the games come around so quickly, you don’t have time to think. What’s gone is gone. We have to look forward, and tomorrow’s game is the ideal opportunity for us to get back on the winning track.”

However, Morgan also said that his team would be looking to capitalise on the fact that FC Goa lost their last home game 4-0, at the hands of Chennaiyin FC.

“I hope (Goa’s 4-0 loss gives Kerala some encouragement) so! But then again they won their last away game. So they’re coming on the back of a win, we’re coming on the back of a loss,” continued Morgan. “In the league, anybody can beat anybody, on any given day. It’s quite even at the moment.”

Zico will be without the services of marquee player Lucio in the match, which could be a huge setback for FC Goa. However, They do have the likes of Renaldo and Jonatan Lucca, to hurt Kerala Blasters FC, who on their part would be looking to the likes of defender Peter Ramage and Victor Forcada, to see them through.

It's a morale boosting win, says FC Goa coach Zico

FC Goa coach Zico was pleased with the performance of his team as they came from behind to beat Kerala Blasters 2-1 to guide them at the top of the table of the Indian Super League.

Margao: FC Goa coach Zico was pleased with the performance of his team as they came from behind to beat Kerala Blasters 2-1 to guide them at the top of the table of the Indian Super League.

"It's a morale boosting win for us as we move next to Mumbai to play against Mumbai City FC, who also won their last match and are high on confidence," Zico said at the post-match press conference.

"We started off badly and played lot of miss passes in the middle which helped the visitors to have the ball possession as they played lot of aerial passes, which got them the goal. But after introducing Mandar Rao and Romeo Fernandes midway in the second half, things worked better for us as they opened the games on the flanks earning us us corners and we scored."

Zico was all praise for keeper Laximani Kattimani, who brought off couple of good saves and turned the table.

"It was a tough game and we fought well after being down to collect full points. Now we must concentrate and remain focus to keep the winning momentum going," stated Zico.

Kerala Blasters coach Peter Taylor was disappointed that his team could not win inspite of better scoring chances.

"The boys played well but goals were hard to come with rival keeper bringing off couple of good saves. We lacked a geninue striker who could score goals. We have been put into difficult position after three defeats at a trot and now we are playing against a highly motivated team Pune FC which will be a tough match to win," stated Taylor.