Punjab FC face Goa test in final home turf clash

Punjab FC will look to put up a good against the second-placed FC Goa in their final home game of the Indian Super League season, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi, on Thursday.

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With only three games remaining in the league season, Punjab FC, currently 11th in the table with 24 points, will look to finish on a positive note while FC Goa, who have 42 points from 21 matches, will be keen on securing a top-two finish.

The visitors had got the better of the home side 2-1 in the reverse fixture which was played at Goa in November with the help of goals from Armandu Sadiku and Iker Guarrotxena after Asmir Suljic gave the lead for Punjab.

“We will be facing a team who according to me is the best in the league. Everyone knows how they play under the coach who is also the coach of the national team. I have to keep the team motivated for the rest of the matches and keep playing our style of football,” said Punjab FC Head Coach, Panagiotis Dilmperis.

The side will be boosted by the return of Nikhil Prabhu and Tekcham Abhishek Singh, who have had a wonderful season. Luka Majcen, who has been impacting recent fixtures from the bench has 11 goal involvements with eight goals and three assists while Ezequiel Pulga Vidal who has scored some wonderful goals this season has six goals and three assists to his name.

“I will not use injuries as excuse for the team’s dip in performance this season. We will have to analyse what exactly happened this season and then come to a conclusion if the injuries have played a part in this performance,” said Dilmperis.

As far as recent showing are concerned, Punjab FC had faced a 1-3 defeat to East Bengal FC in their last home fixture while FC Goa had gotten the better of Kerala Blasters 2-0 in their last match played on home soil too.

FC Goa are looking to secure maximum points in the remaining games and finish in the top two to secure a direct semi-final spot. Iker Guarrotxena, Armandu Sadiku and Brison Fernandes have been in fine form and will be the main goal threats.