FC Goa and Mohun Bagan Super Giants meet in a high-voltage semi-final tie of the 2023 Durand Cup. The winners will face East Bengal FC in the final.
FCG vs MBSG Match Details
Date: Thursday, 31 August 2023
Time: 18:00 (IST)
Venue: Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata
FCG vs MBSG Match Preview
Going behind against Chennaiyin FC just 10 minutes into the game, FC Goa fought back to eventually secure a 4-1 victory in the Durand Cup quarterfinal match. Carl McHugh, on his club debut, cancelled Bikash Yumnam’s opener on the half-hour mark before Carlos Martinez got them in the lead. The Gaurs found two more goals at the death through Noah Sadaoui with his fifth strike of the tournament and substitute Victor Rodriguez. The Goans have made it to the semifinals without losing a game and this is the second time they are gracing the stage. Last time when FC Goa made it to the last four, they won the whole thing. The objective will be the same again with a new era starting under Manolo Marquez. FC Goa faces a tough test against the ISL champions Mohun Bagan with their incredible backing at Salt Lake Stadium. An atmosphere they have not faced before in the tournament. The 2021 Durand Cup winners will bet on the immense quality of the squad to make a second appearance in the final.
Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan finally got one over Mumbai City by beating them 3-1 in the quarterfinals of the Durand Cup. It was their first victory in this fixture in nine attempts and the one that has given them a bag full of confidence to reach the tournament final for the 28th time. Although, they have to tackle another severe challenge in FC Goa in the semifinals. However, time and time again their huge support in Salt Lake has come to the aid of the team as shown in the last match. The Mariners exerted early pressure on Mumbai City resulting in a seventh-minute spot-kick, won and converted by their Australian star Jason Cummings. Although Jorge Diaz levelled up the score, Manvir Singh’s bullet header straight after restored the lead. In the second half, Anwar Ali’s fantastic leap to meet Ashique Kuruniyan’s cross sealed the victory. With consecutive 3-1 wins in all competitions, Mohun Bagan are carrying an excellent form and dreaming about the possibility of another Kolkata derby in the showpiece.
FCG vs MBSG Team News
Both teams are expected to be unchanged from their previous game. Goa have two players going to face their former club on Thursday Sandesh Jhingan and Carl McHugh who joined this summer. For Mohun Bagan, Center-back Brandan Hamill continues to struggle with injury. Forward Dimitrios Petratos is also getting up to speed from his conjunctivitis layoff.
FCG vs MBSG Predicted Lineup
FCG: Dheeraj Singh; Seriton Fernandes, Odei Onaindia, Sandesh Jhingan, Saviour Gama; Raynier Fernandez, Carl McHugh, Brandon Fernandes; Udanta Singh, Carlos Martinez, Noah Sadaoui
MBSG: Vishal Kaith; Anwar Ali, Hector Yuste, Subhasish Bose; Manvir Singh, Sahal Samad, Anirudh Thapa, Hugo Boumous, Ashique Kuruniyan; Armando Sadiku, Jason Cummings
FCG vs MBSG Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Kaith (Cr - 7, Pts - 53)
DEF: Anwar (Cr - 7.5, Pts - 120) Jhingan (Cr - 8, Pts - 67), Bose (Cr - 8, Pts - 49)
MID: Boumous (Cr - 7.5, Pts - 112), McHugh (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 100), B Fernandes (Cr - 8, Pts - 54), A Kuruniyan (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 47)
FW: C Martinez (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 206), Cummings (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 52), Sadaoui (Cr - 9, Pts - 284)
Vice-captain: Hugo Boumous
Captain: Noah Sadaoui
