'Good team spirit shown till the end' - Petr Kratky after draw with FC Goa

Mumbai City FC boss Petr Kratky also shed light on Apuia and Jorge Pereyra Diaz’s absence.

Mumbai City FC faced off FC Goa in what was a closely fought contest between both the teams. The Islanders opened the scoring thanks to Vikram Partap Singh’s goal just after half time.

But it was the Gaurs, who didn’t back off, rather put Mumbai at the backfoot and kept on ringing the alarm bells for the Islanders’ defence. Eventually they did get an equaliser, courtesy of Mohammed Yasir’s worldie. Even with all those chances, the Gaurs couldn’t secure the victory and left the Mumbai Football Arena with just one point in hand.

Petr Kratky too acknowledged the same in the post-match press conference. 

A momentum shift

Mumbai City FC opened the scoring right in the early minutes of the second half, giving a glimpse that the momentum will turn in their favour. But it was just a mirage as it were FC Goa who rather gained momentum and went all out against the Islanders.

Petr Kratky too, praised FC Goa for the same. “We know Goa are a quality team. We had decent first half, and kept a lot of the ball. We started the second half well, the team scored a goal, there was good combination with the cross and the finish. Goa are quality side and that is why they were unbeaten for the first part of the season. A good top bin goal from Yasir too,” he said.

He also praised his team’s spirit to fight until the very end, and not let Goa have their winner. “They had momentum, so we tried to help boys from outside. We instructed them to slow the tempo, and to try to play a little bit more simple and quick. Good team spirit shown till the end.”

Apuia and Pereyra Diaz

Apuia and Pereyra Diaz were absent from the squad for the match, which raised some eyebrows. Petr Kratky informed, “Apuia was a little bit sick. He woke up a little bit sick. We have to look after him and the same with Diaz.”

Ayush Chhikara’s substitution

Chhikara was brought on in the second half, but was taken off within 10 minutes. “He wanted to take precaution, he is a very important player to us. We had another substitution, so we made it. Health of the player is the most important thing,” the coach asserted.

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