Sports
ISL: Bengaluru aim to capitalise on vulnerable Goa defence (Preview)
Bengaluru, Feb 8 (IANS) Leaders Bengaluru will aim to capitalise on the vulnerable FC Goa defence at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Friday to further strengthen their top spot in the Indian Super League (ISL) season four.
The hosts have nearly sealed the spot in the playoffs with their last win over Chennaiyin FC.
The Albert Roca managed side have accumulated 30 points from 14 matches.
Meanwhile, the FC Goa side are currently fifth in the league with 20 points, just three less than third-placed Chennaiyin FC.
However, the Sergio Lobera managed side have a fixture in their hand.
Bengaluru FC have won four consecutive games in the ISL while Goa have registered defeat in their last two fixtures.
Talking about the clash with the table toppers FC Goa assistant coach Derrick Pereira emphasised on the fact that his team is focussed on the game at hand. “We would be focussing on the games that we have to play. We don’t want to think ahead at this moment.”
The visitors campaign received a setback with unfavourable results in the last two outings, losing to Mumbai City and later a draw with NorthEast United.
FC Goa has been troubled by their defence but Pereira believes that’s a part of how they play. “I think we play as a team and we follow a certain idea. We’ll stick to that and won’t change on those ideas.”
However, Goa can take heart ahead of the crucial game having defeated Bengaluru in a seven-goal thriller when the two teams squared off earlier in the season at their home.
Bengaluru FC, on the other hand, would want to set that record straight when they go out on the field.
“In that game, we had our chances but we didn’t take them. But we knew we were playing against a really good team. We will be playing against a team which I think will be in the top four. They are a good team and they have good players,” Bengaluru FC head coach Albert Roca said.
The Spanish tactician also hinted that he may rest some of his key players for the game given the tight schedule he has got. “We have also got an AFC game coming up. So we may make some changes.”
–IANS
sam/bg
The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.
Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.
Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”
Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.
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