Mumbai City aims to secure top spot in Durand Cup Group B

Mumbai City FC (MCFC), the Indian Super League (ISL) Shield winner, will play the Indian Navy Football Team (INFT) in their last Group B matchup of the 132nd Durand Cup on Saturday.

The crucial match at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata will be followed by a Group F match between Odisha FC and local team Bodoland FC at the SAI stadium in Kokrajhar, which will serve as both teams’ final group matches.

Islanders will look to top group

Des Buckingham’s Mumbai City squad will need to defeat the Indian Navy team in order to secure first place in Group B, based on the results of their first two games.

The following group games feature Mohammedan Sporting and Jamshedpur, both of which have a six-point potential, matching the Islanders’ current total. Des Buckingham would rather not take any chances despite his team’s healthy positive goal difference.

The Islanders’ manager had said ahead of the game, “Tomorrow will be a continuation of what we’ve done in the two games before this and of course, building on the pre-season friendly game we played in Thailand. For us, it’s about trying to get fitter, sharper and continue to evolve.

“Firstly, our target is to go as far as we can in this tournament and secondly, to make sure we’re as good and as sharp as we need to be for the first game in the AFC Champions League in September,” Des Buckingham said.

The fact that the Navy squad has so far failed to pose a threat to their opponents and is now out of the running after losing both of their first games may make things simpler for him.

Given the situation, Saturday might easily mark the debut of the first squad in the competition to record three victories in a row.

Desperate for a win

Since both teams are slightly more evenly matched than in the Mumbai-Navy game, the evening game in Kokrajhar is expected to be more competitive and thrilling.

Odisha coach Amit Rana seemed to be sounding the war bugle when he said a day before the game, “We’re prepared for tomorrow and our goal is clear. Our journey continues, and we’re ready to make every moment count.”

Making the most of every opportunity in what has been a first-ever hosting of such a renowned national competition in their home, the Bodoland FC players will likewise be striving to make every second count. They played one-touch, direct football in both of their games and appeared sharp.

They will undoubtedly want to finish the season on a winning note for their supporters, who have occasionally braved bad weather to fill the stadiums. The neutrals are sure to enjoy it.

-IANS