Jamshedpur FC vs. FC Goa: 10 things to know about the game

Gaurs will look to get back on track against Jamshedpur

Goa. FC Goa’s next game against Jamshedpur FC provides the Gaurs with a chance to get back to winning ways. After a slow start to the season, the Gaurs seemed to have found their bearings with back-to-back wins over Kerala and Odisha.

The Men in Orange, though, failed to carry on the momentum, stumbling to two defeats on the trot at the hands of ATK Mohun Bagan and Chennaiyin FC.

Juan Ferrando and his men will look to change the narrative when they step out onto the pitch at the Tilak Maidan against a side that is coming off a win over NorthEast United and are unbeaten since their defeat in their season-opener.

Heading into the game, here are 10 things you should know:

2: The last time the Gaurs lost two in a row in the ISL league stage was also the last time a new head coach was in charge in his first season. The 2017/18 season saw the Gaurs stumble to 0-2 and 0-1 defeats to Bengaluru FC and Chennaiyin FC in consecutive games. That run of games actually saw Goa being winless for a stretch of 4 games, of which 3 were defeats.

2: Goa has been a good hunting ground for Jamshedpur. They have lost just 1 of their last 9 games in Goa. They were only 1 of 2 teams in the two seasons prior to the current one to have not gone back from Goa with a defeat. The other being Bengaluru FC. Jamshedpur were actually the only team to have inflicted a home loss to the Gaurs last season.

5: FC Goa’s 5-0 win in the ‘corresponding’ fixture last season was the biggest away win recorded in the history of the Indian Super League. Ferran Corominas, Jackichand Singh, Mourtada Fall and Hugo Boumous (x2) were on the mark that night for the Gaurs.

6: Jamshedpur FC come into the game at the back of a six-game unbeaten run. Owen Coyle’s men stumbled to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Chennaiyin FC in their season opener but have not faced defeat since then. Their last six games have seen them eke out 4 draws and 2 wins.

6: Tomorrow’s game will also see two of the league’s top marksmen up against each other. FC Goa’s Igor Angulo and Jamshedpur’s Nerijus Valskis are tied at the top in the race for the ISL Golden Boot. The two strikers are currently tied at the top with 6 strikes each to their names.

8: The two sides have come across each other on 8 occasions in all competitions , including 2 times in the Super Cup (where the Gaurs have prevailed on both occasions). The Gaurs have a favourable head to head record against Wednesday’s opponent, winning 5 of those 8 matches. Only one game has ended in a draw.

33: Alberto Noguera now leads the Gaurs in terms of tackles, taking over from Edu Bedia. The midfielder now has 33 tackles to his name after 7 games.

52: FC Goa’s last game against Chennaiyin FC was the first time in 52 games that Lenny Rodrigues didn’t start for the Gaurs. The central midfielder had started 51 games straight for Goa ever since signing for the Gaurs in the summer of 2018.

230: Wednesday’s clash pits 2 teams with the highest number of crosses so far this season against each other. The two teams look to utilise their flanks to the fullest and have together accrued 230 crosses – the highest for any two teams combined.

512: Edu Bedia continues to lead the charts in terms of passes completed. The Spaniard has completed a total of 512 passes. In fact, 7 of the top 16 spots are currently occupied by FC Goa players.