Cummings is keeping Odisha on edge before the first leg of the semi-finals
The Mohun Bagan vs Odisha duel has heated up repeatedly this season. Dimitri Petras beat Odisha 4-0 in the AFC Cup group league first leg encounter.
The Mohun Bagan vs Odisha duel has heated up repeatedly this season. Dimitri Petras beat Odisha 4-0 in the AFC Cup group league first leg encounter. But Mohun Bagan’s dreams of reaching the inter-regional semi-finals ended with a humiliating 2-5 loss to Yuva Bharati in the return leg.
In the ISL at home, the Manbir Singhs were 0-2 down but drew courtesy of Armando Sadiqu. He saved the loss by scoring a pair of goals. At the end of the game, Krishna was involved in a dispute with Mohun Bagan’s then coach Juan Ferrando on the field. The atmosphere of Yuva Bharati became heated.
The result of the second phase meeting in ISL was 0-0. That’s why most of the green-and-maroon fans were praying that Kerala Blasters would qualify for the last four after defeating Odisha on Friday night. But Krishnarai had the last laugh by winning the match.
All the footballers, including Habas, have made it clear that they are not worried about Odisha. The Spanish coach was absent from practice on Friday for a medical examination. Yuva Bharati watched the preparations through the window of assistant Manuel Cascalana’s room at the nearby five-star hotel. Habas was in a familiar mood at practice on Saturday. Mohun Bagan’s practice on Friday emphasized attacking football.
Defense footballers were tested on this day. Yutse, Anwar Ali, Subhashis Basud played against Dimitri, Johnny Kauko, Manbir. Wanted to see how ready Mohun Bagan’s defense is to stop Odisha’s Krishna, Diego Mauricio. Although Krishna did not score against Kerala, Diego and Issac Vanlalrutfela put the ball into the net from his passes.
Not only that. It was under the leadership of Krishna that Odisha stormed the attack. Krishna is set to trump Sergio Lobera in the first round at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.
Are you worried about Odisha being the opponent in the last four? Habas shouted, “Odisha is a good team. But Mohun Bagan is better.” When Habas was confined to a hotel a week ago after falling ill, Shubashis said, ”Habas is the driving force of our team.”
That he didn’t exaggerate, it was clear once more on Saturday evening. Habas delayed practice by half an hour due to the intense heat. It was right that Dimitri will prepare at the number two training ground of Yuva Bharati. But because the field workers gave more water, he changed his decision and went to the number one field with the footballers.
Goa in last four: FC Goa beat Chennaiyin FC 2-1 to advance to Mumbai City FC in the last four. Noah Wally scored 1-0 in 36 minutes. Brendan Fernandes made it 2-0 in the 45th minute. Chennaiyin’s goal scorer is Lazar Chirkovic.
