Mumbai City FC are set to take on Odisha FC in their second game of the 2022/23 Indian Super League (ISL) season. The game will see the Islanders return to Mumbai for a competitive game after over two years. After a thrilling 3-3 draw against Hyderabad FC in their first game of the new Hero ISL season, Mumbai City FC will welcome Odisha FC at the Mumbai Football Arena on the 15th of October 2022. The game will kick-off at 7.30pm IST.
The Islanders started the 2022/23 ISL campaign against a formidable Hyderabad FC side in a highly entertaining clash that ended 3-3. Mumbai City FC put in an exceptional attacking performance against the reigning ISL Champions and continued in the same dynamic fashion they showed during the 2022 Durand Cup.
Odisha FC, on the other hand lost to eventual champions Bengaluru FC in the quarter-final of the 2022 Durand Cup. In their group stage games at the 2022 Durand Cup the Kalinga Warriors were flawless as they won all 4 group stage games at the domestic tournament. Their opening game of the 2022/23 ISL season saw them beat Jamshedpur FC 3-2 in an action-packed game.
The two clubs have faced each other 16 times in the past. Mumbai City FC have won 8 times and tend to dominate the fixture, while Odisha FC have won 5 times against the Islanders. Only 3 of the matches between the clubs have ended in stalemate. The most recent meeting between the two clubs came back in February of 2022 in the ISL, a game that the Islanders won 4-1 comfortably thanks to a standout performance by Bipin Singh for Mumbai City FC.
Coach Des Buckingham before the match talked about the team’s preparation and how the squad is shaping up for the 2022/23 ISL season, “This year, we have the luxury and the benefit of a wonderful midfield and that's been done purposefully. We went out in the offseason, we recruited players that not only could play the way we want to play, but would allow us to play different ways and that was important to us.”
Lallianzuala Chhangte who was also part of the press conference spoke about how big impact Coach Buckingham is having on his performances as he said, “He trusts me and we worked individually together after training. We also sat together for video analysis and then we got used to doing it almost every day. So, it helped me a lot, it has given me more confidence. Confidence in playing football and to do what we learn on the training pitch is the reason I am enjoying my football so I think that that is what is making me a better player.”
Coach Buckingham signed-off by saying, “it's going to be really nice to get to play in Mumbai now with our fans at the stadium tomorrow, especially to be able to engage with them physically rather than on a screen and you know the support we've had on social media and other things to be able to do that person will be really good. I am really looking forward to it.”
Where To Watch
The game will kick off at 7:30 pm IST and will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network, Hotstar, and Jio TV for all viewers in India. For our global fans, you can download the OneFootball app, find your broadcaster at indiansuperleague.com/broadcasters or follow all the action LIVE on our official Twitter account - @MumbaiCityFC.
