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I-League Forecast: Round 7
Goal.com's Amoy Ghoshal gives his predictions for the seventh round of the I-League....
04-Nov-2009 7:45:52 PM
Last Round's Performance:
Correct Result: 3/7
Exact Scoreline: 0/7
Season Performance:
Correct Results: 18/40
Exact Scoreline: 3/40
Mahindra United – Viva Kerala
The Mumbai outfit picked up just one point from each of their last three fixtures all of which were against teams from the top five. So this home fixture will provide David Booth’s team the chance to get back to winning ways and improve their home form as they have only won one out of three matches. Viva are on their travels again after three consecutive home games from which they only picked three points. They played well against East Bengal but couldn’t get anything from it and this away fixture could prove to be another difficult game for them. I expect Mahindra to get maximum points from this.
Prediction: 2-0
Chirag United – Salgaocar
The team from Kolkata lost top spot to Dempo after two stalemates away from home. So they will be determined to take full points from this home tie which could see them regain pole position as Dempo have the tough task of facing Churchill. Salgaocar have scored two crucial points in their last two away encounters and will be looking to make it three in a row. Chirag are the better team and I expect them to edge this one but only just.
Prediction: 2-1
Air India – East Bengal
Air India coach Bimal Ghosh blasted the officials after they were controversially denied a point against the champions in the last match. They have another home tie and they will be hoping for their first win home win of the season. Their opponents East Bengal got their first three points of the season in the last round and so will be aiming to build on it by getting a good result from this. Cooperage hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for East Bengal and they even lost this fixture last season but I expect them to get something from this.
Prediction: 1-1
Sporting Clube de Goa – Mohun Bagan
Only two teams are still without a league win this season, bottom placed Sporting is one of them. Five out of their six matches have been at home but still they have managed to pick just two points. Mohun Bagan started with two consecutive defeats, followed it up with three wins on the trot and then lost their last game against Mumbai FC. Sporting will be desperate for three points while the inconsistent Mariners will be looking to bounce back from that defeat. I think both teams will share the points.
Prediction: 1-1
Churchill Brothers – Dempo
This fixture is easily the most eye catching match of Round 7. Outside the Goa league, the two teams met in semi finals of two cup competitions. Dempo won in the Federation Cup last year while Churchill edged the Durand Cup match earlier this season. So there is not much to choose between two teams, who are separated by just two points and are still unbeaten. Both teams will be going all out for three points but I think they will cancel each other out. A high scoring draw is on the cards.
Prediction: 2-2
Mumbai FC – JCT
Khalid Jamil’s team caused the shock of last round by beating Mohun Bagan 2-1 and so will be confident against Sukhwinder Singh less JCT. The side from Ludhiana have lost their way a bit after failing to win their last three matches. But those games were against three of the title contenders so they will be more confident of winning against Mumbai FC. The home side are unbeaten in their last four and will be hoping to get their first win in their own backyard but JCT are a formidable outfit so I expect them to get something from this.
Prediction: 1-1
Pune FC – Shillong Lajong
Like Sporting, Pune are still winless despite showing promise in each of their matches. This will be their fifth home fixture so they will be aiming for three points from this. Lajong failed to respond their defeat against Bagan with a win as they were held at home against Salgaocar so even they will play for three points in this match. I expect a tight encounter but Pune should edge this and get their first win of the season.
Prediction: 1-0
Amoy Ghoshal
Correct Result: 3/7
Exact Scoreline: 0/7
Season Performance:
Correct Results: 18/40
Exact Scoreline: 3/40
Mahindra United – Viva Kerala
The Mumbai outfit picked up just one point from each of their last three fixtures all of which were against teams from the top five. So this home fixture will provide David Booth’s team the chance to get back to winning ways and improve their home form as they have only won one out of three matches. Viva are on their travels again after three consecutive home games from which they only picked three points. They played well against East Bengal but couldn’t get anything from it and this away fixture could prove to be another difficult game for them. I expect Mahindra to get maximum points from this.
Prediction: 2-0
Chirag United – Salgaocar
The team from Kolkata lost top spot to Dempo after two stalemates away from home. So they will be determined to take full points from this home tie which could see them regain pole position as Dempo have the tough task of facing Churchill. Salgaocar have scored two crucial points in their last two away encounters and will be looking to make it three in a row. Chirag are the better team and I expect them to edge this one but only just.
Prediction: 2-1
Air India – East Bengal
Air India coach Bimal Ghosh blasted the officials after they were controversially denied a point against the champions in the last match. They have another home tie and they will be hoping for their first win home win of the season. Their opponents East Bengal got their first three points of the season in the last round and so will be aiming to build on it by getting a good result from this. Cooperage hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for East Bengal and they even lost this fixture last season but I expect them to get something from this.
Prediction: 1-1
Sporting Clube de Goa – Mohun Bagan
Only two teams are still without a league win this season, bottom placed Sporting is one of them. Five out of their six matches have been at home but still they have managed to pick just two points. Mohun Bagan started with two consecutive defeats, followed it up with three wins on the trot and then lost their last game against Mumbai FC. Sporting will be desperate for three points while the inconsistent Mariners will be looking to bounce back from that defeat. I think both teams will share the points.
Prediction: 1-1
Churchill Brothers – Dempo
This fixture is easily the most eye catching match of Round 7. Outside the Goa league, the two teams met in semi finals of two cup competitions. Dempo won in the Federation Cup last year while Churchill edged the Durand Cup match earlier this season. So there is not much to choose between two teams, who are separated by just two points and are still unbeaten. Both teams will be going all out for three points but I think they will cancel each other out. A high scoring draw is on the cards.
Prediction: 2-2
Mumbai FC – JCT
Khalid Jamil’s team caused the shock of last round by beating Mohun Bagan 2-1 and so will be confident against Sukhwinder Singh less JCT. The side from Ludhiana have lost their way a bit after failing to win their last three matches. But those games were against three of the title contenders so they will be more confident of winning against Mumbai FC. The home side are unbeaten in their last four and will be hoping to get their first win in their own backyard but JCT are a formidable outfit so I expect them to get something from this.
Prediction: 1-1
Pune FC – Shillong Lajong
Like Sporting, Pune are still winless despite showing promise in each of their matches. This will be their fifth home fixture so they will be aiming for three points from this. Lajong failed to respond their defeat against Bagan with a win as they were held at home against Salgaocar so even they will play for three points in this match. I expect a tight encounter but Pune should edge this and get their first win of the season.
Prediction: 1-0
Amoy Ghoshal
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