ISL semifinal live, Mumbai City vs Goa: score, updates, commentary, news

Mumbai City vs FC Goa: You can follow the match live right here on the blog:

PREVIEW

Mumbai City pulled off arguably the most remarkable comeback in ISL history when they came from 0-2 down to win 3-2 in six minutes of their semifinal first leg against FC Goa in the Fatorda. Now, they’ll face off against Manolo Marquez’s men at the Mumbai Football Arena with a goal advantage.

Yesterday, Mohun Bagan sealed their place in the final – while ensuring the showpiece would take place at the Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata, but today will decide who will join them there. Mumbai were decidedly second best for most of the 90 against Goa, but as they showed at the end, they have the quality to turn any match around on its head. Goals from Lallianzuala Chhangte and Vikram Pratap Singh marked a period where they had just one foreigner on the field. Will Peter Kratky go the bold way and start Gurkirat Singh (who made such a big difference up top) or Jayesh Rane (who’s directly running ripped through Goa) instead of big-money foreign signings? Chhangte and Vikram Pratap ought to retain their places and would look to start the game with the same verve they showed in the last few minutes in the first-leg.

One thing we can be sure of is that Manolo Marquez won’t be backing down. After the first leg Marquez commented that Mumbai City were celebrating rather excessively considering there was still a full 90 left to play. He bemoaned his team’s complacency and appeared committed to correcting the mistake come Monday. Marquez will be without Mohammad Yasir, who assisted the opening goal for Goa on Wednesday, but the coach is not too worried. “He is a very good player,” said Marquez. “I think he arrived in the middle of the season. Was not very good in the beginning, but now has a lot of assists and two (three) goals and I don’t know how many, four or five assists. I know the quality of Yasir from a long time ago. But (for the second leg) we will play another player.”