Mumbai City FC eye ISL top spot

Navi Mumbai, Nov 16 (IANS) Mumbai City FC will look to finding their scoring touch and full three points when they take on FC Goa in an Indian Super League (ISL) encounter at the D.Y. Patil Stadium here Monday evening.

The hosts have been solid defensively and maintained a clean sheet in their last four games but at the same time have also failed to score in their last two away encounters.

One of those encounters was against the visitors, where both teams fought for midfield superiority and failed to break the opposition defence.

The local support and conditions, however, could play a big factor Monday as the hosts aim to win all remaining home points available with an eye on a semi-final berth.

Mumbai City FC have 11 points from eight outings so far and have three more home games, including the one Monday, to play as the battle for the top four slots hots up.

As things stand now, all eight teams have a chance to reach the semis and only two points separate Mumbai City FC from table toppers Atletico de Kolkata. A victory against FC Goa could see Mumbai take pole position in the overall standings for the first time.

“Players don’t like being beaten and it just doesn’t help the morale, so it is important to stop getting beaten. We have done that and we have had four clean sheets in a row. There’s been a lot of 0-0 draws going on in the league, so it’s a sign of a mature league,” Mumbai City FC assistant coach Steve Darby said Sunday.

Mumbai midfielder Tiago Ribeiro said: “We have ensured that the gaps we have had earlier in the league, we have closed them. We are communicating better on the field and we started working as a unit. That’s changed over the last few matches.”