Come on! Super Sunday here again! Why was a Sunday ever deemed super? I’m not going to do any research into it, but my gut instinct tells me that it was probably something concocted by Sky so you didn’t feel so bad about going to work on Monday, something along those lines anyway. Turns out that this Super Sunday might not be as good as the others as for some reason there’s only one game. When I put the predictions together for this set of games, Delhi were scheduled to play Mumbai tomorrow alongside FC Goa vs NorthEast United. That isn’t happening anymore as the Delhi game is now due to be played on the 27th. Why? I’ve got no idea.
27 goals in 11 games
Both teams come into this game on the back of a loss. NorthEast continue to blow hot and cold under Avram Grant, however, it could be argued that they were unlucky to lose last time out away at Bengaluru. On the other side of that, it’s the same old problem for the Highlanders as they’re still struggling to score and it’s no surprise that they’ve got the joint-worst attacking record in the division.
From one extreme to the other, Goa have anything but a problem finding the back of the net as they’ve scored 27 goals in eleven games. In the same breath, though, they’ve also got the second-worst defensive record in the ISL so if you’re looking for goals in a game, Goa are the team to watch. They lost a seven-goal thriller last time out to Mumbai, the red card just after half-time ultimately making all the difference. I fear for NorthEast in this game, I really do and feel that if FC Goa get an early goal, they’ll run riot.
Goa fell out the top four the other day after Jamshedpur’s impressive win in Mumbai, however, Sergio Lobera will know that three points will take them back into the playoff places and they’ve got three games in hand, so even if they fall to NorthEast it’s not the end of the world. On the other hand NorthEast are twelve points from fourth and with only seven games remaining, even the most ardent fan would think that their chance for glory this season has gone.
Stat Attack
FC Goa’s Coro took his tally to TWELVE for the season after his brace against Mumbai. One to watch.
NorthEast have only had the majority of the possession ONCE away from home this season. Problem.
Earlier this season…
NorthEast United 2-1 FC Goa
NorthEast defied the form book in what was Avram Grant’s first game in charge of the ‘Highlanders’. There’s little surprise who the catalyst for the win was, that man, Marcinho as he scored one and set the other up either side or Manuel Arana’s equaliser. It was a game where NorthEast came flying out the traps and put Goa under the pressure from the word go as they peppered Kattimani’s goal with shot after shot and they eventually broke the deadlock through Marcinho; the ball went in off both posts, finally a bit of luck.
Arana levelled after some sloppy defending let the Spaniard in and that was with less than half an hour on the clock. From that moment onwards, Goa pressed and pressed but they couldn’t take the lead and Grant had words at half time which evidently worked because only minutes after the second half began, Marcinho put a lovely, precise ball through to Doungel who finished like a seasoned-pro, chipping the onrushing Kattimani with ease. That was that Grant had his first win and the Highlanders finally had something to cheer about.
One more thing…
All things considered, if I was a betting man and luckily I am, I’d be backing FC Goa. Get the house on it. Not sure what the price is, but if it’s shorter than 4/5 put two houses on it! Come on!!
