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I-League Preview: JCT - Sporting Clube de Goa
Both sides will be desperate for three points
27-Jan-2010 6:49:00 PM
By Amoy Ghoshal
Date & Time: 28th January, 14:00 IST
Venue: Guru Nanak Dev Stadium, Ludhiana
Home Advantage
JCT got a vital away point against Chirag in the last round which keeps them four points away from the relegation zone. But the former champions have played a game more than four of the five teams below them so they badly need a win in this match. Traditionally they are very strong at home but this season they have only won one out of their five matches in Ludhiana.
Midfielder Penn Orji has been their standout performer for many rounds as the Nigerian has not only worked hard in midfield but also has been scoring regularly. The rest of the team hasn’t been at their best but India Under-23 international Balwant Singh did improve in the last game. JCT’s strength throughout the season has been their defence as they have let in the least number of goals and goalkeeper Karanjit Singh should get most of the credit for that record. Finding the back of the net has been a big problem so the return of top scorer Baljit Singh Saini will be a massive boost.
JCT started the campaign with two consecutive wins but they haven’t tasted victory for nine league matches now and therefore are very much in the fight for survival. So this game against bottom placed Sporting is very much a six pointer and the onus will be on the side from Ludhiana to take all three points since they are playing at home.
Still Without A Win
Sporting Clube de Goa are currently placed at the bottom of the I-League table and are the only side without a win this season. The team that finished third last term have lost half of their matches and their recent form doesn’t suggest that things are going to turn around anytime soon. The performances in two of their last three matches have been decent but that’s the only positive coach Vishwas Gaonkar can take going into this game.
They were totally outclassed by Dempo in the last game with the foreign strike duo of Junior Obagbemiro and Nathaniel Amos once again failing. Goalkeeper Luis Barreto, defender Matthew Gonsalves and winger Joseph Pereira are the three players who have played well in patches but Sporting haven’t been good enough as a team both home and away. A trip to Ludhiana could prove to be daunting as they have only picked one point from three matches outside Goa this season.
Sporting are six points behind JCT but have played one game less so a win in this game could prove to be a big result. A bottom placed side is bound to lack confidence but the Flaming Oranje cannot feel sorry for themselves and should instead aim to improve their position. They need to get something from this because a defeat will leave them with too much to do in the second half of the season.
Form Guide
JCT
Jan 24: Chirag United 1-1 JCT
Jan 17: Viva Kerala 1-0 JCT
Jan 9: JCT 1-2 Pune FC
Sporting Clube de Goa
Jan 24: Dempo 3-1 Sporting Clube de Goa
Jan 16: Churchill Brothers 0-0 Sporting Clube de Goa
Jan 10: Mahindra United 2-1 Sporting Clube de Goa
Team News
JCT
Star striker Baljit Singh Saini is set to return to action after missing out the last four matches due to a injury suffered in a bike accident In November. However defender Gurwinder Singh and medio Baldeep Singh are ruled out due to suspension.
Sporting Clube de Goa
Sporting will be without the services of their Japanese recruit Kenji Arai who is unavailable due to suspension.
Players To Watch
JCT – Penn Orji
Baljit Sahni is available again but the youngster will be playing after a long time so Nigerian Penn Orji must continue his good form and should also try to get on the scoresheet in this must win encounter.
Sporting Clube de Goa – Junior Obagbemiro
Sporting’s top scorer last season has been a flop this term as he has only managed two league goals. However there is no doubt that the Nigerian has the talent to score goals so for Sporting to win this Junior must be at his best.
Key Areas..
Both JCT and Sporting have scored the same number (only 11) of goals so
since this game is very much a six pointer the finishing of the two sides could be decisive.
Venue: Guru Nanak Dev Stadium, Ludhiana
Home Advantage
JCT got a vital away point against Chirag in the last round which keeps them four points away from the relegation zone. But the former champions have played a game more than four of the five teams below them so they badly need a win in this match. Traditionally they are very strong at home but this season they have only won one out of their five matches in Ludhiana.
Midfielder Penn Orji has been their standout performer for many rounds as the Nigerian has not only worked hard in midfield but also has been scoring regularly. The rest of the team hasn’t been at their best but India Under-23 international Balwant Singh did improve in the last game. JCT’s strength throughout the season has been their defence as they have let in the least number of goals and goalkeeper Karanjit Singh should get most of the credit for that record. Finding the back of the net has been a big problem so the return of top scorer Baljit Singh Saini will be a massive boost.
JCT started the campaign with two consecutive wins but they haven’t tasted victory for nine league matches now and therefore are very much in the fight for survival. So this game against bottom placed Sporting is very much a six pointer and the onus will be on the side from Ludhiana to take all three points since they are playing at home.
Still Without A Win
Sporting Clube de Goa are currently placed at the bottom of the I-League table and are the only side without a win this season. The team that finished third last term have lost half of their matches and their recent form doesn’t suggest that things are going to turn around anytime soon. The performances in two of their last three matches have been decent but that’s the only positive coach Vishwas Gaonkar can take going into this game.
They were totally outclassed by Dempo in the last game with the foreign strike duo of Junior Obagbemiro and Nathaniel Amos once again failing. Goalkeeper Luis Barreto, defender Matthew Gonsalves and winger Joseph Pereira are the three players who have played well in patches but Sporting haven’t been good enough as a team both home and away. A trip to Ludhiana could prove to be daunting as they have only picked one point from three matches outside Goa this season.
Sporting are six points behind JCT but have played one game less so a win in this game could prove to be a big result. A bottom placed side is bound to lack confidence but the Flaming Oranje cannot feel sorry for themselves and should instead aim to improve their position. They need to get something from this because a defeat will leave them with too much to do in the second half of the season.
Form Guide
JCT
Jan 24: Chirag United 1-1 JCT
Jan 17: Viva Kerala 1-0 JCT
Jan 9: JCT 1-2 Pune FC
Sporting Clube de Goa
Jan 24: Dempo 3-1 Sporting Clube de Goa
Jan 16: Churchill Brothers 0-0 Sporting Clube de Goa
Jan 10: Mahindra United 2-1 Sporting Clube de Goa
Team News
JCT
Star striker Baljit Singh Saini is set to return to action after missing out the last four matches due to a injury suffered in a bike accident In November. However defender Gurwinder Singh and medio Baldeep Singh are ruled out due to suspension.
Sporting Clube de Goa
Sporting will be without the services of their Japanese recruit Kenji Arai who is unavailable due to suspension.
Players To Watch
JCT – Penn Orji
Baljit Sahni is available again but the youngster will be playing after a long time so Nigerian Penn Orji must continue his good form and should also try to get on the scoresheet in this must win encounter.
Sporting Clube de Goa – Junior Obagbemiro
Sporting’s top scorer last season has been a flop this term as he has only managed two league goals. However there is no doubt that the Nigerian has the talent to score goals so for Sporting to win this Junior must be at his best.
Key Areas..
Both JCT and Sporting have scored the same number (only 11) of goals so
since this game is very much a six pointer the finishing of the two sides could be decisive.
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