Mumbai City wants to stamp early authority on the ISL table with a win over Jamshedpur FC who has begun their season on a losing note.
The Islanders registered a 2-0 win over Odisha FC while The Red Mariners suffered the defeat against the Juggernauts themselves 3-2 even after leading by two goals inside 10 minutes.
MCFC vs JFC Match Details
Date: Saturday, 22 October 2022
Time: 17:30 (IST)
Venue: Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai
MCFC vs JFC Match Preview
Mumbai City FC claimed their first win of the season following their opening day 3-3 draw against Hyderabad FC by beating Odisha FC 2-0 at home through an own goal by Shubham Sarangi in the 50th minute before Bipin Singh killed the contest in the last minute of the game. The winger has now become the highest goal-scorer for the club with 15 goals to his name. Des Buckingham will be happy for his side showing more defensive assurances than the three goals leaked in the season opener in keeping the first clean sheet of the season. Switching some key personnel in the starting lineup did the trick for the Islanders, probably possessing the best depth in their squad in the entire league. Having a lot of quality options in various areas of the pitch certainly helps them and will mount them to the title charge once again having suffered last season with the lack of depth. Although the goals did not come until the second half of the game, Buckingham will be happy for his side grabbing the victory against a tricky Odisha FC team who made a stellar comeback in their season opener. The Juggernauts played against Jamshedpur FC in that match whom Mumbai City FC are going to face on Saturday. The Islanders have obtained mixed results against last season’s Shield Winners since the Men of Steel introduction in the ISL. In the five games so far in the Mumbai Arena, the hosts have only managed two wins. Losing the other two and drew once. However, they are unbeaten in the last three home games of this meeting. The coach will also take their unbeaten start to the season into the factor considering Jamshedpur will arrive in the city with low morale from their disheartening loss in the season opener. Facing the Shield Winners is the first of the three fixtures that include matches against last season’s finalist Kerala Blasters and playoff challengers ATK Mohun Bagan. Hence, a win on Saturday will be vital for Mumbai City to show their strength to the rest of the teams this season.
Jamshedpur FC were on the course of grabbing the headlines with an electrifying start to their ISL season by grabbing two goals inside 10 minutes that will take them to victory as the ideal treat for the fans moments after a real lightning storm caused a delay to the kick-off. But as the game often does to the lot there was a twist in the tale with Odisha FC somehow regathering themselves from the early blow and paving the way for a stunning comeback through a late show at JRD Tata Complex in Jamshedpur’s first home game after two years. Often defensively composed under Owen Coyle in the last season, Adrian Boothroyd’s side struggled to handle the attack from the Juggernauts in crucial moments of the play. While the first game is not a way of judging the team’s whereabouts for the new season, the Men of Steels have to improve a lot from their display in the season opener trying to be more compact against a side like Mumbai City having some dangerous forward in their ranks. One of whom has been their biggest contributor in terms of goals for their ISL Winner’s Shield triumph last season. Greg Stewart will not be the only threat for Jamshedpur FC to deal with as this time he has players that can share the goals with him like Bipin Singh, Jorge Pereyra Diaz, Chhangte or Alberto Noguera. It will be a huge task for the center-back pair of Eli Sabia and Peter Hartley to keep them quiet although the scare factor cannot be an option for the Red Miners will like to take advantage of some of the defensive fragilities shown by Mumbai City in their opening game through their star striker Daniel Chima. The Nigerian striker scored seven goals in an impressive return out of 11 games in the latter half of last season since making the move to the club in January this year and has already opened his account this term. He will be Boothroyd’s main weapon at the weekend to help Jamshedpur FC gain their first three points of the season.
Recent Form
MCFC: WD
JFC: L
MCFC vs JFC Team News
Mumbai City continues to be without Amey Ranawade who is nursing an injury before the start of the campaign as Rahul Bheke continues in the right-back spot. Mourtada Fall, in off-form, was dropped for only the third time in his career at Mumbai City so far in the win against Odisha and the center-back pair of Rostyn Griffiths and Mehtab Singh help the team keep the first clean sheet of the season. Sanjeev Stalin also starred in the left-back position and will retain his spot despite the wealth of options Islanders have in that area. Ahmed Jahouh and Alberto Noguera started in the last game to provide more quality to the midfield and will continue in this game as well. Forward Greg Stewart, who scored 11 goals and delivered 10 assists in a sensational campaign with Shield winners Jamshedpur FC, returns to face his former side.
Jamshedpur FC also have a few niggles to think about before this game. Winger Ritwik Das was an injury concern after the first game but is expected to be available on Saturday. He will be part of the front three with Boris Singh and Daniel Chima both scoring inside 10 minutes in the defeat to Odisha in the season. Despite the defeat, coach Adrian Boothroyd is unlikely to tinker with the personnel from the last game.
MCFC vs JFC Predicted Lineups
MCFC: Phurba Lachenpa (GK); Rahul Bheke, Rostyn Griffiths, Mehtab Singh, Sanjeev Stalin; Ahmed Jahouh, Alberto Noguera, Lalengmawia Ralte; Lallianzuala Chhangte, Greg Strewart, Bipin Singh.
JFC: Rehenesh TP (GK); Laldinliana Renthlei, Peter Hartley, Eli Sabia, Ricky Lallawmawma; Germanpreet Singh, Wellington Priori, Farukh Choudhury; Boris Singh, Daniel Chima, Ritwik Das.
MCFC vs JFC Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Lachenpa (7.5)
DEF: Bheke (8), Griffiths (8.5), Hartley (9), Ricky (8.5)
MID: Boris (8.5), Noguera (8.5), Jahouh (9), Bipin (8.5)
FW: Chima (9), Stewart (9)
Vice-captain: Bipin Singh
Captain: Greg Stewart
