Chennaiyin FC (CFC) will have nothing but pride to play for when it hosts Jamshedpur FC (JFC) in its final game of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 campaign at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.
A win would only take 11th-placed CFC to a total of 27 points from 24 games, which was enough to eke out a spot in the playoffs last season, but well short of the mark this year.
On the other hand, JFC, which has already secured a place in the next stage of the competition, will seek to solidify its place in the third or fourth spots in the table, to enjoy home advantage in the one-off playoff ties.
The lack of sharpness in attack has been one of the major disruptors of CFC performances this season. With the league’s leading chance creator Connor Shields a doubt for the match after suffering a knock in the previous game, the home side will have an added challenge to tackle when facing the Red Miners.
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“In the big scheme of things, there’s no getting away from the fact that we have we’ve given up too many soft goals. But, the chances that we miss have hurt us, and I’m not talking about half chances,” CFC coach Owen Coyle said during the pre-match press conference.
“But, it’s not just about one person at one end. It’s a collective, you need to do better than that,” he added.
To further dampen its spirits, CFC will take the field for the last time this season without captain Ryan Edwards, who was sent off in its 0-3 loss against NorthEast United in the previous match.
However, Coyle suggested that some of the younger players including goalkeeper Samik Mitra would get a chance against JFC, to show their mettle ahead of the Super Cup next month.
The home defence, which has already equalled its own record for most goals conceded in a single season in the league phase (37), will have a tough assignment when it faces Khalid Jamil’s side, which has had 11 different goalscorers this season (third highest behind FC Goa and Odisha FC).
FILE PHOTO: Coyle suggested that some of the younger players including goalkeeper Samik Mitra (in picture) would get a chance against JFC, to show their mettle ahead of the Super Cup next month.
| Photo Credit:
FSDL/ISL
FILE PHOTO: Coyle suggested that some of the younger players including goalkeeper Samik Mitra (in picture) would get a chance against JFC, to show their mettle ahead of the Super Cup next month.
| Photo Credit:
FSDL/ISL
Veteran Javier Hernandez leads the scoring charts for JFC with seven goals so far while Javier Siverio and Jordan Murray follow closely with six each.
However, similar to their opponent, JFC has been leaky in defence and are the only side in the top six to have a negative goal difference (-3).
Despite goalkeeper Albino Gomes making a league-high 88 saves so far this season, JFC has let in 38 goals, which is the third-most, after bottom sides Hyderabad FC (46) and Mohammedan SC (41).
The two sides have met each other 15 times in the past with CFC enjoying a superior record of seven wins, while JFC has managed just three wins.
In spite of the match being a dead rubber fixture for CFC, Coyle asserted that his side would try and showcase the same intensity as always.
“The expectations at the start of the season might be different to where we are right now. But, we approach every game with the intent to win,” Coyle said.
“These players are professional players, they’re international players and they want to show that they want to be part of Chennaiyin next year,” he added.
Content Source: sportstar.thehindu.com