The Blasters are placed fifth in the league standings with 30 points from 18 games, one point behind fourth-placed Mumbai City FC.
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Kerala Blasters FC and Mumbai City FC will face off in a virtual shootout for a place in the play-offs, in a rescheduled Indian Super League (ISL) fixture at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Wednesday. The Blasters are placed fifth in the league standings with 30 points from 18 games, one point behind fourth-placed Mumbai City FC. The top four teams at the end of the league stage will qualify for the semifinals.
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High stakes, high reward ⚔️
Our penultimate challenge of the season is a BIG one! ??#KBFCMCFC #YennumYellow #KBFC #കേരളബ്ലാസ്റ്റേഴ്സ് pic.twitter.com/tqVqb7Aw2Q
— K e r a l a B l a s t e r s F C (@KeralaBlasters) February 28, 2022
With league leaders Hyderabad FC already assured of a place in the play-offs and Jamshedpur FC and ATK Mohun Bagan needing just one point to confirm their place as well, it is Blasters and Mumbai City who are likely to fight it out for the fourth and final semi-final spot.
Kerala Blasters’ form has been hot and cold of late, having secured three wins, two defeats and one draw in their last six games. Ivan Vukomanovic’s side got back to winning ways with an impressive 3-0 win over Chennaiyin FC in the last game. Jorge Diaz netted a brace before Adrian Luna got on the score sheet with a superb free-kick gaol to secure all three points for the Yellow Army.
It was a complete performance from KBFC as they were clinical up front, kept the ball possession, and defended pretty well. The best thing about Vukomanovic’s team has been their game management, being able to take the lead and defend that exceptionally well. KBFC has kept the most number of clean sheets (7) in the league so far and that is a testament to their defensive solidity.
Luna has been KBFC’s stand out performer this season with seven assists and five goals to his name. The Uruguayan midfielder has scored four world class goals so far including the swirling free-kick against Chennaiyin FC in the last match.
Apart from Luna, the forwards, Diaz and Alvaro Vazquez are also in red hot form. Both of them have netted a combined 11 goals while Saha Abdul Samad is also having an impressive season having found the back of the net four times.
The front four of KBFC has been impressive with their positional interchange, Diaz and Vazquez often go to wider positions creating space for Sahal and Luna to get inside into goal scoring positions.
“ Tomorrow’s game is everything you wish for as a football player. It is nice to play against a top team and we have our preparations in place and it doesn’t change a lot compared to other games. We will be ready to show our strength on the pitch,” Vukomanovic said.
“In tomorrow’s game, we will see all elements of football. Both teams will fight for points and will fight till the last moment,” he added.
On the other hand, MCFC defeated FC Goa 2-0 in their last match and have secured four wins in their last five games. Mumbai City’s defence has been a cause of concern for head coach Des Buckingham, having conceded 20 goals so far. They would need to be at their best at the back to stop the KBFC front four and at the same time will be facing one of the strongest defences in the league while going forward.
