Can Mumbai City and Jamshedpur Reach the Kalinga Super Cup Final?

Bhubaneswar, April 29 (NationPress) Both Mumbai City FC and Jamshedpur FC were eliminated at the semifinal stage in the last edition of the Kalinga Super Cup, but this season offers them a chance to reach the final for the first time when they clash at the Kalinga Stadium on Wednesday.

With both teams yet to concede a goal in this tournament, it will be intriguing to see which side manages to breach the other’s defense. If neither can find the back of the net, penalties will be the ultimate decider.

Head coach Petr Kratky has the opportunity to guide the Islanders to an Asian competition for the third time in the club's history, and the excitement is palpable in the locker room.

"We are thrilled and proud to reach the semifinals. Our approach is to take it one game at a time and prepare for the next final, which is tomorrow. We always set high expectations; our goal is to win every match and secure the trophy for our club and fans," stated Kratky.

The painful 5-0 defeat to Bengaluru FC during the Indian Super League (ISL) playoffs still lingers in the minds of the Islanders, and their mission now is to overcome that setback and forge new memories in Bhubaneswar. Mumbai City has achieved two clean-sheet victories thus far, triumphing over Chennaiyin FC (4-0) and Inter Kashi (1-0).

"I was extremely pleased with our opening match against Chennaiyin, showcasing a strong reaction to the loss against Bengaluru. The team has worked diligently on the training field since that match.

"I anticipate a competitive game against Jamshedpur. They are a formidable opponent, as demonstrated by their performance in the ISL season. They are also excelling in the Super Cup. We aim to minimize their chances. If we maintain our defensive strength and execute our strategy, I’ll have confidence in our squad," remarked the Czech manager.

Jamshedpur FC finds itself in the semifinals of the Kalinga Super Cup for the third consecutive time. They suffered defeats of 0-2 in their previous appearances against East Bengal (2024) and Bengaluru FC (2023). While the Men of Steel hope for third-time luck, head coach Khalid Jamil emphasized that each tournament presents a fresh challenge.

"We don’t dwell on past tournaments. Each game is a new challenge, and we must adopt a positive mindset to achieve favorable outcomes. This is an important semifinal against a strong team, and we must work hard for success," Jamil stated.

Winning the Kalinga Super Cup would secure Jamshedpur FC's first-ever appearance in Asia, having narrowly missed out on the AFC Champions League in 2023 after losing a qualifying playoff to none other than Mumbai City.

Jamshedpur enters the match with a psychological advantage, having defeated the Islanders twice this season in the ISL. However, Jamil reiterated that this is a "completely different match" in a distinct competition.

"Mumbai City has performed well in their matches against Chennaiyin and Inter Kashi. They possess quality players who excel in attacking football," Jamil noted.

The Indian coach praised his players for bouncing back from a mid-season slump and finishing the campaign strongly, despite their ISL journey concluding with a narrow defeat to Mohun Bagan SG in the semifinals.

"We experienced some unfavorable outcomes, particularly mid-season. However, everyone learned from their errors. Our players are mature and know how to handle tough situations. I commend the boys for their hard work and teamwork," he added.

Mumbai City FC versus Jamshedpur FC will occur at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar at 8:00 PM IST. The match will be broadcast on the Star Sports network and live-streamed on Jio Hotstar.