NEUFC players during a practice session ahead of their
year-end clash against Mumbai City FC.
- DIMAPUR — The
NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) will travel to the City of Dreams to face Mumbai
City FC on Monday at the Mumbai Football Arena, hoping to end the year on a high.
- The Highlanders are coming into the fixture after a
resounding comeback 5-2 win after being 0-2 down away to Hyderabad FC. Mumbai
City FC also won 1-0 at home against Chennaiyin FC.
- The Highlanders currently sit sixth in the table on 18
points, and a win on the road will see them jump above Mumbai City FC and
Odisha FC.
- In his pre-match press conference, NorthEast United FC’s
head coach, Juan Pedro Benali, expressed that the team is focused on itself
rather than the opposition.
- “Every game is totally different; the approach is totally
different. This is (Mumbai City FC), a different team with different players.
But it always depends on us. If we do our job, stick to our game plan, elevate
the quality and fighting spirit, we will do a good job,” he said.
- Juan Pedro Benali’s men are the highest-scoring side in the
league (26 goals), the only team to have scored five goals more than once and
have their forwards firing on all cylinders.
- Against Hyderabad, Guillermo Fernandez scored a sensational
brace to take his tally this season to four goals. With his glancing header,
Moroccan forward Alaaeddine Ajaraie equalled Bartholomew Ogbeche for most goals
scored for NorthEast United FC (12 goals) and continues to lead the charts for
most goals and goal contributions. Jithin MS, who assisted Guillermo’s opener,
is now the joint-top for the most assists this season (5 assists).
- Mayakkannan, Mohammed Ali Bemammer, and Macarton Louis
Nickson form the midfield fulcrum and have controlled the games for the
Highlanders. Ali was instrumental in two of the Highlanders' five goals with
his accurate balls over the top and the Moroccan midfielder, flanked by two
Indian youngsters, would look to do the same against Mumbai City FC.
