The games are coming thick and fast in this year’s ISL as we are well and truly in the home stretch for many of the teams. We’ve got two games this Sunday and out of the four teams who are playing, three still have something to play for, so no danger of any dead rubbers, well there shouldn’t be anyway…
3rd plays 4th in Chennai
To say the early game is a mouthwatering prospect is a massive understatement as third take on fourth in Chennai as Steve Coppell’s Jamshedpur face John Gregory’s Chennaiyin. Personally speaking, it seems like a bigger game for Jamshedpur as if they lose and Kerala win there will only be a point between them going into the penultimate round of fixtures and Jamshedpur face Bengaluru who are on fire at the moment.
The only saving grace for the ‘Men Of Steel’ is that Bengaluru have already qualified and are almost assured of top spot, so there’s every chance Jamshedpur could get something from the game. Maybe. Chennaiyin will go second with a win and their worst case scenario is that come Monday morning is that they’ll have a three point cushion over Kerala so a draw wouldn’t be the end of the world for Gregory’s side, but there’s no doubt in my mind that they will be going for all three points.
The later of the two games sees Mumbai go to Kolkata to take on ATK and while ATK’s season is done and dusted, Mumbai have gone an ever so slight chance of making the top four. A win in Kolkata will put Mumbai on 20 points with three games left, however, if they lose and Jamshedpur beat Chennaiyin, their hopes of success are over for another year. I’ll be honest, there’s a lot more riding on the early game, so that’s where most of my attention will be focused.
Stat Attack
Chennaiyin have scored in their last ten games. Goals.
Jamshedpur have won their last three games all by the odd goal. In fact, every game they have played in has been decided by one goal. Tight.
ATK only won once at home this season. No home comforts.
Mumbai are unbeaten in four on the road. Away days.
Earlier This Season
Jamshedpur FC 0-1 Chennaiyin FC
It was the tale of two penalties when the two sides took on each other earlier in the season as Jeje put Chennaiyin in the lead in the 41st minute and then Belfort fluffed his lines from the spot in the 3rd minute of first half stoppage time. Chennai’s penalty was one of only two shots they had on target but after Coppell bemoaned the pitch after the game, it’s no surprise that only one goal separated the two sides.
Mumbai City 0-1 ATK
Robin Singh got the only goal to give ATK an unlikely win away at Mumbai. If memory serves, it was one of Robbie Keane’s first games of the season and he no doubt spurred his team on to all three points. It might have even been his first game. Well done Robbie lad. The last time the two sides met in Kolkata, Hume was playing for ATK and Diego Forlan was up front for Mumbai. How things have changed…
One more thing…
It’s time to stick my neck on the line once more and all things considered, if I was a betting man and luckily I am, I’d be backing Mumbai @ 5/4. I’m not sure if I’ve got any houses left, but put one on this if there’s any left. I’ll be doing a betting round-up next week to see how I’m getting on throughout the season. Stay tuned for that.
Over and out.
