Undefeated Mumbai FC host United SC

Pune, Oct 8 (IANS) High-on-confidence Mumbai FC will look to secure their first home win when they host United Sports Club in an I-League Round 4 encounter at the Balewadi Sports Complex here Wednesday.

This will be Mumbai FC’s third home game and they can take confidence from the fact that the same encounter last season ended 2-1 in their favour.

The hosts, currently fourth in the league table, go into the game after securing their first win of the season against defending champions Churchill Brothers away in the previous round. Victory helped Mumbai FC extend their unbeaten run to three games.

On the other hand, third placed United SC (Six points) had a great start to the season winning their opening two games before slumping to their first defeat to Bengaluru FC in Round 3. They will be eager to get back. The visitors have been dealing with injuries to key players since the start of the campaign but strikers Ranti Martins and Eric Brown remain key for coach Eelco Schattorie.

Mumbai FC have started to gel together and with the inclusion of attacker Sandjar Ahmadi have added experience and sting to their line-up. Coach Khalid Jamil was impressed by the performance in the last round and is likely to continue the winning combination.

Striker Orok Essien and Ahmadi’s partnership up front has been great. The Nigerian got on the scoresheet against Churchill while the Afghan Ahmadi settled quickly. The backline, led by goalkeeper Kunal Sawant and defenders Haroon Amiri along with Anwar Ali and Kamaljeet Kumar, kept the first clean sheet and is a much stronger unit now.

Jamil expects his team to put up a good show.

“The team is fit and is raring to go. The win has lifted the morale. We hope to extend the away success into our home game,” said Jamil.

Ghanian striker Yusif Yakubu has not yet joined the team.

Mumbai FC have a better record against United SC. Out of 13 encounters, the hosts have five wins compared to United SC’s four. A win on the morrow will fortify the home side’s record against their Kolkata counterparts.