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Resurgent Goa square off with injury ridden ATK
14 Dec 2014

AIFF Media Team

 

NEW DELHI: An injury plagued and off-colour Atlético de Kolkata will try to make full use of the home advantage offered by their raucous support and their greater familiarity with the artificial turf when they take on in form FC Goa in their first leg of their semifinal on Sunday.

 

The two sides met earlier at the same venue on Wednesday in a last round Hero Indian Super League match that ended 1-1 after the hosts scrambled a late equaliser that helped them make the cut.

 

A few key players of the home team have been nursing injuries though the silver lining is that Cavin Lobo may return.

 

On the other hand, the visitors will miss defender Bruno Pinheiro in both the semis.

The Portuguese player was red carded for apparently tripping Fikru Teferra who scored from the resultant penalty.

 

Goa are the superior side from an attacking perspective, having netted 21 times in the competition in comparison to Kolkata’s 16.

 

Goa also have more shots (199-144) and shots on goal (121-76) than their hosts.

 

The confident visitors will probably go for the jugular against Antonio López Habas’ side who have won just once in the last 10 matches after a good start to the campaign.

 

Resurgent Goa turned their season around in the second half of the tournament and have remained unbeaten since. 

 

From a defensive point of view, both teams have managed five clean sheets each.

 

Kolkata have made one more interception than Goa (362) and more blocks (96-64) but trail Zico’s men in the tackles category (302-339). The hosts will hope the big occasion inspires them to get their act together so that they can travel to Goa with an advantage.

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