Internet Desk: It will be quite an enthralling battle between Mumbai City FC and Atletico de Kolkata for the first semi-final of Hero Indian Super League (ISL) at Rabindra Sarobar Stadium on Saturday. Under new coach Alexandre Guimarães Mumbai City FC has been a transformed unit compared to the previous two seasons. The Mumbai side finished top of the ISL on 23 points and put themselves in a strong position to qualify for the final at Kochi. Atletico de Kolkata on the other hand has been one of the consistent sides in the ISL, qualifying for the last four stages in all the editions. The former champions finished fourth in the group stages to be pitted against Mumbai City FC. There will be a few inner battles apart from the main one which will decide the fate of the semi final clash on Saturday. xtratime.in tried to find out the top 5 key battles for Saturday’s clash at Rabindra Sarobar.
Helder Postiga vs Diego Forlan – It will be a fascinating contest between the marquee footballers from both sides. Whilst Diego Forlan may not necessarily have been Mumbai’s best player, his contribution of five goals and two assists has made him their most important. He was the focal point of Mumbai’s attack, moving the ball around well and creating space for his teammates with his off-the-ball movement. It wasn’t just his on-field contributions that made him so important, but his general experience. At 37-years-old, the Uruguayan is a veteran of the game and experience with clubs such as Manchester United, Atlético Madrid and Inter Milan will serve his Mumbai teammates well. Postiga on the other hand is out to prove that he is here to win the trophy for his side. The 34 year old Portuguese international has played his part for the side so far, scoring a couple of goals and assisting in three more. He has been in electrifying form and his goal scoring ability will be a big bonus for Jose Molina’s side. Postiga, who played a substantial role in helping his country reach the finals of the 2004 Euro will be determined to make a key contribution in the semi finals against Mumbai. The experienced striker who won a treble with Porto in 2002-03 season under Jose Mourinho will bring in a wealth of experience to his side.
Borja Fernandes vs Sony Norde – Another interesting battle on the cards will see both Sony Norde and Borja Fernandes taking control of midfield for their respective sides. Borja Fernandez has been the pillar of strength in Atletico defence. The former Real Madrid footballer is their most important player this season and has been vital in their defensive solidity. ATK are tough to break down and Borja underpins this. Having made 42 tackles in the league this season, the fifth highest in the league, Borja tirelessly and tenaciously breaks up opposition attacks and provides the impetus for ATK’s own forward play. The 35 year old will face a stiff challenge from the Mumbai City FC attacking trio of Forlan, Chhetri and Norde. Talking about Norde, he has been a livewire for Mumbai effectively using the wings. The attacking midfielder who has made 21 appearances for his country will look to play a key part in the match. One biggest advantage Norde will have is the crowd support he will get at Rabindra Sarobar, having played for Mohun Bagan in I League.
Iain Hume vs Lucian Goian – Mumbai City FC defender Lucian Goian has been a key player for Alexandre Guimarães side patrolling the defence with authority. The 33 year old Romanian has been a tough nut to crack as far as getting past him and scoring is concerned. It will be quite an interesting challenge when he will be up against Atletico’s Iain Hime who is the top goal scorer in ISL history. A tough, no-nonsense defender, Goian leads the list in both tackles (67) as well as recovered balls (76). Mumbai have kept eight clean sheets when Goian has played this season, but Hume has given enough evidence with the fact that he has the ability to get past the best of defenders.
Amarinder Singh vs Debjit Majumder – It will be another interesting battle between the former Atletico de Kolkata goal-keeper with the present one. Both Amrinder and Debjit has done well under the goal for their respective sides. Amrinder, who was named the best goalkeeper of I League last season has seen a stiff rise in the last couple of years. The former Atletico goalkeeper who plies his trade with Bengaluru FC will look to get the better of his counterpart in the semi-final clash tomorrow. Debjit on the other hand is already one of the most astute keepers of Indian top-flight football. In his first season for Atletico, the Mohun Bagan goalkeeper has put up a consistent performance under the bars to win coach Molina’s confidence. Both goalkeepers will look to keep a clean sheet on Saturday.
Arnab Mondal vs Sunil Chhetri – Both the national team footballers will be up against each other. The Indian captain in spite of playing only four matches for Mumbai City FC this season in ISL, has already earned the confidence of Guimaraes with his influence and presence. Arnab Mondal has been a key footballer in Atletico de Kolkata right from the days of Habas. The experienced East Bengal defender will have a huge challenge against the potent strike force of Mumbai City FC. The 27 year old defender was one of the mainstays of the inaugural champion side, playing in 16 of the 17 matches. He was also the peak of the Indian defenders in the league with 141 blocks (2nd highest in the League) and 54 interceptions (most by any Indian player in the League). Atletico management will be hoping to see a repeat of his performance against Mumbai City FC on Saturday.
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