Internet Desk: Sporting Clube de Goa face their cross town rivals Salgaocar FC in a high voltage Goan Derby on Saturday at Tilak Maidan, Vasco.
The previous encounter at Fatorda Stadium resulted in a 1–1 draw. With the top three slots out of reach and either team having already avoided relegation this becomes a match to establish supremacy on the Goan turf.
Speaking to the media Sporting Head Coach Mateus Costa said “We always want to finish as high as possible on the table, now that the 3rd spot is out of reach we would like to maintain our position at 4th.” When quizzed about why Sporting missed out on top three, Costa said “Some silly draws cost us the top three, we lacked the finishing in those matches and ended up losing some vital points which would have propelled us into the top three.”
Costa further added “The derbies are always high pressure games; it’s not just the 4th position which is at stake here. With the Federation Cup looming around we would defiantly want to win tomorrow. This can be a huge moral boost for the players ahead of the fed cup and also it would mean we play the second leg at home which is a huge advantage.”
Speaking about the squad Costa said “The recent results have defiantly changed the mood within the camp; the boys are playing with more confidence. They are taking up responsibilities and that is a very good thing to happen. We are hoping we can get a positive result tomorrow and go into the Fed cup high on confidence.”
Sporting would in all probability lack the services of their talisman striker Odafa Okolie while Mehrajuddin Wadoo will also miss tomorrow’s fixture courtesy the red card he picked up in the previous match.
The Salgaocar FC head coach Santosh Kashyap said “We come here after playing two tough matches; we did well in Aizawl but couldn’t execute our plan in Bengluru. This is a different game; we play at home so that’s definitely an advantage also the team looks to be in a good shape. Being our last match we want to achieve a respectable position in the table, so yes a win here can take us to the 4th spot.”
Kashyap also mentioned the fact about players having to adjust with as many as 3 to 4 coaches within one season which makes it very difficult for many players to cope up.
Both the coaches have made an appeal to the fans to turn out in large numbers to support their favourite team. With either side having an eye on the fourth spot, the Goan Football lovers are in for mouth watering affair in the port town city of Vasco.