Highlights, ISL 2018, FC Goa vs Chennaiyin FC: Visitors move to 3rd position with win

Preview: FC Goa would look to draw inspiration for their first-leg performance and notch up a win when they meet Chennaiyin FC in their crucial Indian Super League match on Thursday.

FC Goa had kicked off their ISL campaign with a 3-2 win over Chennaiyin in Chennai and on Thursday would look to emulate the feat again at the Nehru Stadium to remain afloat for a play-off berth.

The Goan side has impressed with their attacking play having scored 29 goals, one less than table toppers Bengaluru FC. But, with their porous defence conceding 25 goals and also not been able to keep a single clean sheet, head coach Sergio Lobera has been a worried man.

In the last three matches, they have collected just one point which has pushed them to sixth place. A win will help them move to fifth place and close the gap with the top four teams.

Lobera said the next two matches, to be played at home, would be crucial for his side to remain afloat in the tournament.

“We need to win these two matches to keep ourselves in the race for the knockout stage. The important thing is to bring back the confidence of the team and we are working on our mistakes and hopefully we do not repeat the same mistakes and come out victors,” Lobera said.

“In the last three matches, we did not have our key players in different positions.

Against Mumbai City, we played with ten men and that made the difference. In the next two matches, we did not have our key players due to injury and red card and that’s how we could not win matches. Now that all are fit we are looking to win our next two home matches which will help us stay in the top four,” he said.

Chennaiyin FC, who have played one match more than FC Goa, have also been inconsistent. They are now at fourth position with 24 points from 14 matches and they would look to make amends for their loss against FC Goa at home.

“It is a very important match and we need to win as both are fighting to stay in top four. Goa started well but could not maintain consistency. They are good in attacking and we are good in defending and it is going to be a close contest and one team has to win,” Chennaiyin coach John Gregory.