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As they say, it’s squeaky bum time. Mumbai City FC are out to return to winning ways as Des Buckingham’s Mumbai City FC return to the Fatorda tonight to face SC East Bengal in a 7:30pm kick off.
After consecutive wins, the Islanders squared off against a resilient Jamshedpur FC. Two momentary lapses meant that Owen Coyle’s side raced to a 2-0 lead inside 30 minutes, a period which also saw Des Buckingham lose Ahmed Jahouh to injury. The Islanders regrouped and came out in the second half with more vigour. Rahul Bheke pulled one back for his hometown side and the Islanders were awarded a penalty soon after, with a chance to draw level. Igor Angulo’s strike down the middle was saved by Rehenesh but it was deja vú in the final 5 minutes as Diego Maurício converted yet another penalty to draw level. But it wasn’t to be as the Islanders’ spirited comeback went to vain after Vignesh was judged to have handled the ball in the final seconds of the game. Greg Stewart beat Nawaz sending him the wrong way from the spot to give Jamshedpur FC a last-gasp win.
SC East Bengal are a side rejuvenated on the pitch. A change at the top for the Red & Gold Brigade, along with changes to the playing contingent in January have brought about a new look to the Kolkata side. Mario Rivera, now in his second stint as SC East Bengal’s head coach replacing Manuel Diaz, comes into today’s fixture off the back of consecutive strong performances albeit narrow defeats to Odisha FC and Kerala Blasters.
Des Buckingham has asserted that his target is to amass as many points as possible in the final stretch of the league stage and for the Islanders, it begins today.
Mumbai City FC head coach Des Buckingham said, “We want to pick up as many points as we can. There’s 12 points on offer and that’s a target that we know we’re going to need to get close to if we want to finish the season in the playoffs, and hopefully higher up.”
The game will kick off at 7.30pm IST and will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network, Hotstar, and Jio TV for all viewers in India.
