Preview: Mumbai City face ACL litmus test against Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya

The Islanders continue their continental journey against the three-time AFC Cup winners.

Mumbai City will look to rewrite their fortunes with a solid display against Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, also known as the Air Force club of Iraq, on 11th April. Des Buckingham’s side started off their campaign with a dismal 3-0 loss to Al-Shabab, but the manager is keen to build on the positives and prepare his side better. 

The Falcons sit third in the Iraqi league, but they won their first AFC Champions League group stage game and will also look to maintain their winning start against the Islanders.

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Mumbai City Vs Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya: The Stakes

Mumbai City could not quite light up the ISL 2021/22 as expected. However, their early exit gave them time to prepare for this competition. Additionally, their season had a few positives, which included the likes of performances against Jamshedpur FC and ATK Mohun Bagan. Both of these fixtures had five or more goals scored by the Islanders.

They seem to have carried their leaky defence with them to the Champions League, however. Al-Shabab’s first goal came from a goalkeeping error, as Phurba Lachenpa lunged onto striker Carlos and conceded the spot-kick. Despite Buckingham’s claims that the event was a simulation, Banega’s penalty stood in the end.

Afterward, the Indian custodian made quite a few crucial saves. For the rest of the goals, centre-back Mourtada Fall as well as starting left-back Mandar Rao Dessai were caught napping. Eventually, Mumbai City could not keep up with the speed of play and ended up conceding twice in the second half.

It was quite a different outing for the Air Force Club, as they scripted a win against UAE’s Al-Jazira. The club brought their eight-game unbeaten streak into the competition and extended it to nine with a 2-1 victory against the Al-Jazira. Though they went ahead early, Al-Jazira caught up to them via Zayed Al Ameri’s goal at the brink of half-time.

However, the Iraqi title-holders reclaimed their lead late in the second half, as Ali Kazem got on the scoresheet and helped them walk away with all three points.

Hakeem Shaker’s side are a class apart from their opponents, as they play effective counter-attacking football and like to keep little of the ball. The team will look forward to their next match and try to exploit Mumbai City’s lack of experience. 

Mumbai City Vs Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya: Team News

Mumbai City will be unsure of Igor Angulo and Brad Inman’s participation in the game. Both were also absent from Mumbai's last matchday squad. While Angulo pulled out at the last minute with a calf strain, Inman was isolated after contracting COVID and had been released from quarantine on the day of the game. Another absentee would be the experienced Rowlin Borges, who suffered a knee injury in the ISL.

Brazilian Diego Mauricio will hope to get his start soon, as Mumbai City desperately missed the presence of a seasoned striker upfront against Al-Shabab. Des Buckingham has an otherwise match-fit roster of players and must look to field his best XI.

Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya will miss the services of goalkeeper Fahad Talib, who has been sidelined since 10th March due to a knee injury. While his return remains uncertain, attacker Ahmed Najm is also not available for selection in the AFC Champions League. Apart from these two players, coach Hakeem Shaker has no notable absentees and is likely to set up his previous starting lineup.

Mumbai City Vs Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya: Head-to-Head

Mumbai City will be playing their second game in the AFC Champions League. Apart from that, they have never gone up against the Air Force Club of Iraq. The Islanders did play Al-Ain and Al-Hilal United in two friendlies before the ACL commenced, but this will be their first meeting in any competition. Both clubs will be looking for a win.

Indian fans will be quite familiar with Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, who beat Bengaluru FC in the 2016 AFC Cup final. The title was one of the Iraqi club's three AFC Cup trophies.

Mumbai City Vs Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya: Probable Lineups

Mumbai City FC: Mohammad Nawaz (GK); Rahul Bheke, Mourtada Fall, Mehtab Singh, Vignesh; Ahmed Jahouh, Apuia; Lallianzuala Chhangte, Bradden Inman, Bipin Singh; Diego Mauricio.

Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya: Mohamed Saleh (GK); Sameh Saeed, Ali Kazem, Ahmad Khalaf, Roderick Miller, Dhurgham Ismael; Hussein Jabbar, Safaa Hadi, Mohammed Ali Abbood, Sharif Abdul-Khadim; Ibrahim Bayesh.

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Mumbai City Vs Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya: Players to Watch

Bipin Singh (Mumbai City)

The electric winger almost matched his stats from the last season’s double-winning run, as he fell short of one assist in ISL 2021/22. However, his purple patch has not been consistent. He often put up mediocre performances, despite getting six goals over the entirety of the season.

Apart from that, the forward has demonstrated his ability on and off the ball, as he often drops deep to help his side build up and defend. He is a proper team player, but equally never shies away from taking a shot on goal or dribbling past his opponents.

His pace will be crucial while building up against a defensively resolute Air Force Club. It is almost a given that the Iraqi side will sit deep in their favoured 5-4-1 shape and hit Mumbai City on the counter. So, the Islanders must look to string together meaningful passes and let Bipin continue making the dangerous runs that he made against Al-Shabad.

Putting Diego Mauricio in the lineup will ease some pressure on the Indian winger as he will get a bit more breathing space which could be crucial for Mumbai City.

Hammadi Ahmed (Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya)

The 35-year-old Iraqi striker has eight goals in only seven matches in the league so far and is the Air Force Club’s top scorer this season. He is technically gifted and also has 40 caps and six goals for the national team.

For a player of his caliber, one can easily expect him to help his side defend well and then let all hell break loose at the first chance of a counter. If he is allowed to operate freely, he is easily capable of punishing the Indian club even more ruthlessly.

Did You Know?

• Mumbai City’s 3-0 loss was the second-highest margin of defeat for any Indian club in the competition, after FC Goa’s 4-0 drubbing by Persepolis last season.
• Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya became the first-ever club to win the AFC Cup three times in a row when they triumphed in 2016, 2017, and 2018. 
• The Iraqi side have failed to advance past the group stages of the AFC Champions League.

Telecast

The match will be played at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The AFC Champions League 2022 will be telecast on the Star Sports 3 in India. Live streaming will also be available on the Disney+ Hotstar app & website as well as on Jio TV.

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