ISL-5: Mumbai City look to start afresh against Jamshedpur FC

ISL-5: Mumbai City look to start afresh against Jamshedpur FC

Mumbai, Oct 1 (IANS) Mumbai City FC will look to take inspiration from their new coach and start their fifth season of the Indian Super League (ISL) on a high when they take on Jamshedpur FC here on Tuesday.

New coach Jorge Costa took charge of the side after a disappointing last season where they finished seventh and once again failed to lay their hands on the elusive ISL crown.

At the Mumbai Football Arena here, the Islanders would want to start afresh and log full points to gain momentum going ahead.

Mumbai have roped in foreigners Paulo Machado (Portugal) and striker Rafael Bastos (Brazil), coupled with new Indian faces like Souvik Chakrabarti, Raynier Fernandes and Subhashish Bose.

For Mumbai, their defence leaked as many as 29 goals last term and to shore up the backline they have added besides Bose, Romanian Lucian Goian, Arnold Issoko (Congo), Souvik Ghosh and the experienced Anwar Ali.

In midfield, they would hope to reap dividends from the experience of Senegal's Modou Sougou.

Mumbai also had a good pre-season in Thailand where they won three games and drew one.

The hosts also have the solid Amrinder Singh and Kunal Sawant to call upon as goal stoppers.

For Jamshedpur, the setback of not having the biggest signing among all teams this season, Australian World Cup striker Tim Cahill and senior goalkeeper Subrata Paul will be a key factor.

Jamshedpur, who finished fifth on the points table last season, also have a new head coach -- Cesar Ferrando who will also be aiming for a positive beginning.

--IANS

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