Match 65 Preview: SC East Bengal begin Marco Rivera era against desperate FC Goa

FC Goa prepare to take on SC East Bengal in a bid to revive their Hero Indian Super League (ISL) season at the Athletic Stadium, Bambolim on Wednesday.

SC East Bengal, currently languishing at the bottom of the table with six points, continue to search for the first win this season. SC East Bengal lost their last match and extended their winless run in the Hero ISL to 15 matches. This is now the longest winless run by a team in Hero ISL history.

With new head coach Marco Rivera set to lead SC East Bengal for the first time, a revival of the team’s fortune is what every SC East Bengal fan is hoping for.

On the other hand, FC Goa have kept the flame burning with 13 points in the bag, including three wins and four draws.

Form Guide

FC Goa

The Guars have found some stability in their last three encounters where they have remained unbeaten. Meanwhile, in the previous five matches, Goa have won and lost once, recording a draw in the remaining three.

SC East Bengal

Winless so far, the Red and Gold Brigade have registered three draws and two losses in the last five matches.

Team News

From the SCEB camp, Marcelo Ribeiro dos Santos will not available as he is not ready to start while both camps have hinted at players remaining absent from this match due to quarantine.

Head-to-head

The two clubs have faced each other thrice in the Hero ISL and FC Goa have emerged victorious on one occasion while the other two matches ended in 1-1 draws. The last match between the two sides earlier in the season was a goalfest with seven goals being scored in the 90 minutes. FC Goa won the game 4-3.

Key Stats

Grapple at Athletic Stadium

At the Athletic Stadium in Bambolim, SC East Bengal are the only current Hero ISL team yet to win a game at the venue. They have four draws and three losses in seven games at the venue.

Open play deficit

The Red and Gold brigade are more reliant on set pieces for goals than any other side this season with 81.82% of their goals coming from set pieces.

Key Players

FC Goa

Jorge Ortiz: Since his arrival to Indian shores ahead of the 2020-21 season of the Hero ISL, no player has taken more shots than him (114). He is the only player to have attempted more than 100 shots since the start of the 2020-21 season.

Ivan Gonzalez: The defender has made 43 tackles, 30 clearances and 19 interceptions so far this season while proving to be an important cog in the counter-offensive machinery of FC Goa.

SC East Bengal

Hira Mondal: He has played every minute of SC East Bengal's season making an impressive 38 clearances, 33 tackles, and 29 blocks and will be key against an attack-minded FC Goa side.

Thongkhosiem Haokip: With two goals this season and an assist, Haokip now needs to score two more to equal Matti Steinmann’s (4) record of most goals in Hero ISL for SC East Bengal.