You’ve made it to the new Global Edition. For ESPN editions, click here.
Three hours of football is all that separates the eventual 2023-24 Indian Super League (ISL) champions and their trophy. Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Mumbai City FC, FC Goa and Odisha FC were the four most sensible teams in the league stage, and that will be theirs once they return to the playoffs.
Let’s take a look at the two semi-finals that will be played after the first leg:
Roy Krishna in Salt Lake is a foregone conclusion, but the Fiji striker can simply silence the Kolkata crowd for once, without giving them anything to celebrate. Krishna won his war against Hector Yuste emphatically last time out, when Odisha FC won 2-1. at home, coming back from a goal down to maintain their unbeaten record at the Kalinga Stadium.
However, Mohun Bagan in Salt Lake is another perspective entirely, as the city of Mumbai discovered to his detriment, squandering the League Shield name on the last day of the normal season. Odisha have won just 3 of their 11 away games this season, yet even a draw would be enough for Sergio Lobera’s men. Their task was further complicated by the suspension of Carlos Delgado, who was sent off in the first leg. Narender Gahlot is expected to update him, which could give Lobera the chance to point out some other foreigners, which may mean Diego Mauricio or Cy Goddard figures in the starting eleven.
Meanwhile, Bagan have also lost Armando Sadiku, suspended following his red card in the first leg, but it’s an easy change for Antonio Habas, with Jason Cummings coming on in his place. The Spaniard could also opt for Sahal Abdul Samad to make his return from a midfield injury and push Dimi Petratos into the No. 9 role. Abhishek was eliminated at half-time of the previous match, which may mean that Deepak Tangri may be the favourite in midfield, but this is an equivalent change.
In the last match, the midfield was completely ignored for long periods, with the two groups engaged in a rollercoaster war or “too long ball, long ball”, as Rabas put it. This forced Ahmed Jahouh to pass deep, almost as an auxiliary centre-back, in an attempt to dictate play to Odisha. We may see a similar encounter as the visitors only want a draw and can opt for a low block and throw it at Krishna in each and every one of them. He had a chance.
However, if Lobera decides to put caution aside, we can look forward to another exciting game, given that the last time those two teams met in Salt Lake in a match, Odisha came away with a 5-2 victory. Habas 2. 0 would certainly facilitate such a match, but if the Spaniard pulls off a blast and gets back into form, a little magic from Dimi Petratos may prove to be enough.
Prediction: Mohun Bagan 2-2 Odisha FC (agg 3-4).
Where to start with this one? On paper, FC Goa arrive at the Mumbai Football Arena with a 2-0 lead and are the heavy favourites to qualify for the final thanks to a defensive masterclass from Manolo Marquez. Instead, in six minutes of madness, Mumbai City scored 3 passes in stoppage time at Fatorda, which means that Petr Kratky’s team has the merit and a draw will suffice. The task is more complicated for Goa, who will want to win via two passes to advance, as a one-pass win would only force extra time.
Manolo Marquez will be without Mohammed Yasir for this match, and in all likelihood even for the final if Goa advance, as the Indian winger was injured on a stretcher and is expected to be replaced by Udanta Singh. Similarly, Kratky will be without Akash Mishra after his injury in the first leg, but Valpuia is a capable assistant. Alberto Noguera still faces a race against time to be available, but Jorge Pereyra Diaz returns from suspension to give Mumbai a much-needed boost.
Diaz’s return may complicate things for Kratky, given that it was their all-Indian front line that earned them the encounter in Goa. Lallianzuala Chhangte and Vikram Partap Singh were the scorers and are ready to start again, but they owe a lot to Jayesh Rane’s performance and Gurkirat Singh once came on as substitutes. The duo jeopardized the fit when Mumbai pulled out all the stops, but Kratky may be reluctant to test that early on.
That may mean Goa will repeat their functionality from the first leg, “the best of their season” in the words of Manolo Marquez, if Mumbai and Goa prepare in the same way. Odei Onaindia very good defensively in the first leg. quelling each and every one of Mumbai’s forays ahead (except for the insane final six minutes), and even Diaz’s presence might not be enough to prevent a replay. At the other end of Goa, Noah Sadaoui remains a prolific outlet, but Carlos Martinez may simply have a chance to lead the line, with Sadaoui dropping down the flanks.
Prediction: Mumbai City 1-2 FC Goa (aggregate 4-4 aet); Goa on penalties.