Friday , March 29 2024

East Bengal and Gokulam Kerala FC set to lock horns!

East Bengal have now come back to their home after a long away spell as they are gearing up to host the Kerala outfit Gokulam Kerala FC, in a must-win match for both the teams to stay alive in the title race.

The match is scheduled to be played on Wednesday, January 15 at the Kalyani Municipal Stadium and will be broadcast Live on DSport and streamed Live on the FanCode app from 5pm IST.

East Bengal, who suffered their first loss of the ongoing I-League against Churchill Brothers, will be looking to get back to the winning ways. The Red and Golds are placed fifth in the table with eight points from five games and a win against Gokulam Kerala FC can assure them of the top three places at the end of the eighth round of matches.

East Bengal, during the last season, did a double on Gokulam Kerala FC with 3-1 and 2-1 wins at home and away respectively which will prove to be a major boost for the home side going into the match.

Speaking before the match, East Bengal head coach Alejandro Menendez Garcia said, “We need to very strong in defence and be much focused. In attack, we will try to be combinative to create as many chances and hopefully convert them. We need to perform in a good way to play this game that is surely going to be tough considering Gokulam will have a similar outlook.”

Gokulam Kerala FC has had a rough patch in the last few matches and the results haven’t really favoured the Kerala Outfit. In spite of team Captain and playmaker, Marcus Joseph being in prime form the team has failed to put together a string of good results.

In addition, the Kerala outfit might be at a disadvantage with the suspension of defenders Haroon Amiri and Mohamed Irshad. The team will also be concerned over a recovering goalkeeper Baskaran, who had to be taken off due to a head-on collision during the match against Chennai City FC.

Gokulam Kerala FC head coach Fernando Andres Santiago Varela said, “East Bengal are always a strong opponent, with very good foreign and Indian players. We will do our best to win away from home.”

He also commented on the events in the last match and said, “Irshad and Amiri are experienced players but we will replace them with two players who are our assets for the future and they will do a good job.”

“With regard to the ‘bad’ luck, I think we are the team that most create scoring chances in the championship and we are not being effective enough. We must improve in this aspect and hopefully be as fast as possible.”

About Press Release

Check Also

I-League Round 24 Preview: Inter Kashi have the potential to be a killjoy in Mohammedan Sporting’s party!

Mohammedan Sporting will have one hand on the coveted I-League 2023-24 trophy if they can …