ISL 2017: Mumbai take on misfiring Delhi

Mumbai: After an eight-day break post their 2-0 away win over NorthEast United, Mumbai City FC will aim to put it across struggling Delhi Dynamos in their Indian Super League match at the Mumbai Football Arena on Friday.

Mumbai are in the top half with 10 points from seven games. Delhi are at the bottom of the table with three points in six games, with just a 3-2 victory in their opening match against FC Pune City.

Delhi have lost five matches on the bounce. The hosts have been inconsistent in their campaign so far and will be keen to notch up their second straight win to inch closer to table toppers Chennaiyin FC.

Alexandre Guimaraes’s side have been sound in the defence with goalkeeper Amrinder Singh in good form. Amrinder has been well guarded by defender Lucian Goian. Cameroonian attacking midfielder Achille Emana has their playmaker but only Balwant Singh, with four goals, have fired among the forwards.

Guimaraes played down the prospect of Delhi being pushovers. “What games are telling us is that every match is going to be tough. We have to play with a lot of seriousness and focus and I hope we learn that as the games go by. For us, it is really important to make it two wins in a row,” he said.

The Dynamos have been good in patches, unable to maintain rhythm, with their defence getting exposed repeatedly.

“It is high time that we start winning games. Everything was right: the training, the team and the performances as well. The only thing not working is the finishing and we are working on it. Also we are playing same kind of football, everybody studies us. We need to have an extra edge a competitive mat-ch,” said Dynamos assistant coach Shakti Chauhan.

“The league is such if we win two back-to-back games we are back in it and winning three games will put us in a good position. We hope to start out winning streak here,” he added.