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A repeat of last season’s ISL final, the Islanders square off against ATK Mohun Bagan with three points in sight.
After a flying start came a roadblock. High from the win in the opening week, the Islanders’ happiness was cut short after a 1-3 defeat to Hyderabad FC. With an aim to get back to winning ways, Mumbai City are faced with a repeat of last-season’s Final. Des Buckingham’s side take on ATK Mohun Bagan tomorrow at the Fatorda at 7.30pm in what will be the Islanders’ first designated ‘away’ game of the 2021/22 season.
The Islanders started off on the front foot against the visiting Hyderabad FC with Ahmed Jahouh thumping home from close range his first goal for the club in the 6th minute. A penalty from Joao Victor six minutes later along with second half goals from former Islander Bart Ogbeche and Rohit Danu capped off a 3-1 win for Hyderabad FC on a night when it was a case of one team taking their chances while the other couldn’t.
On the other hand, ATK Mohun Bagan have had a solid start to the 21/22 campaign. A 4-2 win over Kerala Blasters in the season opener followed by a comfortable 3-0 win over SC East Bengal have given the Mariners six points out of six. Tomorrow’s clash will have a seeming edge after the Islanders faced ATKMB on three occasions last season, winning thrice and bagging the League Winners’ Shield in the final league game of the season and the ISL Trophy in Final. Adding another flavor to the occasion will be Hugo Boumous, Bidyananda Singh and Amrinder Singh. The trio switched camps in the off season, with Amrinder captaining the Islanders to the historic double last season.
With a solid response and three points the need of the hour for Des Buckingham, a feisty encore of last season’s top two sides was probably something the Englishman could have waited for. But that’s probably why they say that tough times don’t last, tough teams do.
The Islanders will have Mandar Rao Dessai in contention for a spot in the Starting XI after Des Buckingham confirmed his return from injury along with Rowllin Borges who has sparingly featured in the first two games. Vignesh Dakshinamurthy continues to be on the treatment table for the Islanders.
ATK Mohun Bagan head coach Antonio Habas confirmed that Spanish defender Tiri is a week away from full fitness.
Mumbai City FC head coach Des Buckingham said, “It’s not so much about them. It’s making sure that we do what we want to do. So, we need to prepare ourselves both in possession and out of possession to face another good team and that’s what we’ve been working on in the last two days.”
Mumbai City FC midfielder Apuia Ralte said, “Sometimes you lose, sometimes you win. It’s normal in football. What is more important is how we come back in the next match.”
