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Mumbai look for home comfort in 'do-or-die' clash

Coming off a defeat to Salgoacar, Khalid Jamil's boys hope to turn things around against Shillong Lajong at the Cooperage

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Mumbai FC players train on the eve of their clash against Shillong Lajong on Thursday
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Despite injury concerns over their midfield maestro— Japan's Taisuke Matsugane — Mumbai FC look favourites to grab three points when they clash against Shillong Lajong in an I-League match at the Cooperage Ground in Colaba on Friday.

Taisuke, who has been in exceptional form, injured himself in his team's 1-3 loss to Salgaocar on March 28.

After faring poorly at the start of the season, Mumbai FC have managed to bring themselves into the competition with a six-game unbeaten run. However, their fairytale march had been shattered by Salgoacar, and Khalid Jamil's boys will be raring to go on their home turf. They'll take solace from the fact that they haven't lost a single game at the refurbished Cooperage. Placed seventh in the standings, Mumbai FC could grab the sixth spot if they win as they can then go past East Bengal.

Mumbai's hopes largely fall on their 6ft 3in striker Josimar Martins who has netted five goals in nine games so far. Martins, back after serving a one-match suspension, will need to be at his best as Mumbai will also be without suspended midfielder Sampath Kuttimany and India under-23 player Jayesh Rane.

Mumbai coach Jamil said it will be a do-or-die game for his team.

"We have to forget about the last match as our performance was not very good. It's very important that we play well tomorrow (Friday). We have to try and come on top and give our 100 per cent on the pitch," Jamil said.
"It's a do-or-die situation for us. We have to perform well and win as the expectations are high. We have not won for a long time," he said.

Second-last placed Lajong, coming from a 1-1 draw against bottom-placed Sporting Goa, have all their players fit but coach Thangboi Singto feels his team needs something out of the ordinary to snap Mumbai's unbeaten home run. Though Lajong beat Mumbai in Shillong in the reverse clash, Singto said his team won't be resting on their laurels.

"Mumbai have tall and well-built players, so they are always dangerous from set-pieces and throw-ins. As we have seen, they have been exceptional at home. So we will have to go at them from the whistle."

He added the team will also have to adjust quickly to the climate.

"The team comes from a place where it's 15-20 degrees Celsius and the current temperature in Mumbai is 35-40 degrees Celsius. So the climate will be a cause of concern, but we won't use it as an excuse. We have to win here in order to be a little safe from relegation zone."

The visitors, too, would hope their West Indian recruit, the Port of Spain-Born Cornell Glen, can weave his magic and increase his goal tally that stands at seven from nine games.

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