Defending champions FC Goa will bank on home advantage at Fatorda Panaji: No team has caused more pain to FC Goa than Mumbai City.Until their 3-1 win in February this year in Mumbai, Goa had gone an agonising 12 games without a win against their rivals. That would have hurt, though not more than the exodus of star names to the city of dreams, semifinal loss on penalties at Bambolim during the Covid-19 pandemic, and, of course, the scarcely believable comeback in the semifinals of the Indian Super League (ISL) in 2024.“That famous game was very tough for us,” said Goa coach Manolo Marquez, recollecting the 2-3 loss at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda. “We were leading by two goals and then they scored three goals in injury time.”Manolo hasn’t really been able to come to terms with how his team lost that game. It’s something the experienced Spanish coach had never seen before. The away win against Mumbai in the last edition of ISL helped apply ointment to the wounds and Goa will now look for more succour as the teams face off in the semifinals of the Super Cup at Fatorda on Thursday.“We are facing one of the biggest teams in the ISL with four very good foreigners. Lot of Mumbai players are in the national team, but obviously, we have a good team as well. This will be an equal game. Our target is to make it to the final and then let’s see what happens,” said Manolo.To the neutrals, Goa will come across as favourites not just to win the semifinal but also defend the trophy they won last season and qualified for Asian competitions. Manolo’s side has played five hugely competitive games in the ACL 2, and now with home advantage on their side and all six foreign players available, they could start on the front foot. Unlike other teams, they’ve been training since July, though the coach feels it’s a double-edged sword.“Theoretically, it’s an advantage since we are playing more games but mentally, we’ve been training since July and we have played just eight games in five months,” said Manolo.Mumbai coach Petr Kratky, who won the ISL trophy in his first season with the club, will look to add the Super Cup crown after two losses in the semifinals.“There is nothing ideal this season, but we are doing our best,” said Kratky, who will depend on his quartet of foreign players – which includes Jorje Ortiz, a former Gaur — to deliver the goods. “We know Goa’s strength and we have done well to prepare for this game. We are here to fight for a win. That’s our main focus.”Many eyes will be on Mumbai midfielder Brandon Fernandes, who faces his former club, with whom he won the Super Cup in 2019.“That was in the past,” said Brandon. “Goa is my former team, but that doesn’t change anything about this game. My mindset is to stay focused and help the team win. Goa are the fittest team in the country right now. If we can focus on our strengths, we can give them a hard time.”That’s Ronney Wilson’s goal for Goa too.The young defender who made his debut for the club at the AFC Champions League Two has grown in experience and believes his side is better prepared to tackle the visitors.“The ACL games have helped not just me but everyone at the club. If we get to play such games on a regular basis, we will grow everyday,” said Ronney.
