Two struggling sides Odisha FC and Hyderabad FC face each other today hoping to secure three points after a slow start to their respective campaigns.
The teams have not performed particularly well and hence find themselves in the wrong half of the table. While Odisha have registered six points from seven games and sit seventh on the table, Hyderabad are rock-bottom with just four points.
Both teams have struggled in the final third and have managed to score only two goals in their last four outings.
“Tomorrow is a crucial match. It is a massive game for us. It’s all or nothing. We are with a chance to get to nine points and we are close to fighting for the play-offs as well. It is important to take this mentality and not add pressure on yourselves,” said Odisha FC coach Joseph Gombau.
The Spaniard should take positives from their performance against Bengaluru FC last week where they created numerous chances even though they lost the game eventually. The likes of Xisco Hernandez, Jerry Mawihmingthanga have created chances throughout the tournament but the strikers have failed to capitalize.
Meanwhile, set-pieces have proved to be the Achilles heel for the home side as four out of the nine goals conceded in the tournament have come through free-kicks or corner-kicks.
Hyderabad FC coach Phil Brown has his task cut out following their 1-0 defeat to FC Goa and a below-par performance in the competition. To make matters worse, star performer Marcelinho is suspended for the tie after having accumulated four yellow cards.
The team’s away form has been miserable. Of the 14 goals against them, 10 have come on the road. But Brown is in a positive mood ahead of tonight’s game claiming that his team is about to turn a corner.
We respect Odisha, their coach and players, but we are just around the corner from a good run. As a coach, it’s my responsibility to make sure that players don’t get frustrated with results because of the way we play but I don’t think they are. Odisha enjoy keeping possession in their games but possession doesn’t necessarily win you games, taking the opportunities certainly does and that’s what we will be trying to do,” said Brown.