Mohammedan SC vs Inter Kashi Preview, predicted lineup, injury news, H2H, telecast details | Durand Cup 2024

The Inter Kashi squad has only one foreigner.

Mohammedan Sporting Club and Inter Kashi are set to clash in their first match of Group B of the 2024 Durand Cup on 28 July 2024. With Bengaluru FC and the Indian Navy the other two teams in Group B, it is hard to predict the group winner and three points will give a huge advantage down the line.

Opening the 2024 Durand Cup campaign with a win will be vital to both Mohammedan SC and Inter Kashi. It is important to note that the former is now an Indian Super League (ISL) outfit and have high expectations to fulfill. On the other hand, the latter will be led by Antonio Lopes Habas in the I-League, the most successful coach in the ISL, hoping to guide the club to the top tier of the Indian football league pyramid.

The anticipation is high ahead of the fixture and here is what one should expect.

The Stakes

Mohammedan SC

The Kolkata-based club will enter the 2024 Durand Cup after winning the 2023-24 I-League and securing direct promotion into the ISL.

They have previously won the Durand Cup twice and will be expected to challenge for the title this year. It would be interesting to see how they manage against Inter Kashi and the fans can gauge where the team stands ahead of an important season. 

Inter Kashi

Inter Kashi are the outside favourites to qualify out of Group B. To finish ahead of the likes of Mohammedan SC and Bengaluru FC in the standings, they must defeat them and secure three points. Antonio Lopez Habas’ arrival is a morale booster, one that can guide the club to cause an upset. 

However, the side will be coached by Arata Izumi at the Durand Cup, one who knows the workings of Indian football well from his playing days.

Injury and Team news

As of now, there is no news of any injury in the camps. Both clubs have a full-strength squad for the upcoming game.

Head to Head

Total Matches Played – 2

Mohammedan SC wins – 1 

Inter Kashi wins – 0

Draws – 1

Predicted Lineups

Mohammedan SC (4-1-2-3)

Joseph Adjel (GK); Samad Mallick, Mohammed Irshad, Thokchom Singh, Zodingliana Ralte; Juan Nellar, Wahengbam Luwang Tanmoy Ghosh; Mirajol Kasimov, Sk Falaz, Alexis Gomez

Inter Kashi (4-3-3)

Arindam Bhattacharya (GK), Anil Chawan, Ashray Bhardwaj, Sumeet Passi, Kojam Beyong, Nikola Stojanovic, Haobam Tomba Singh, Phijam Vikash Singh, Asif Khan, Chirag Bhujel, Harmanpreet Singh

Players to Watch

Alexis Gomez (Mohammedan SC)

Alexis Gomez will be leading the forward line for Mohammedan SC. The striker from Argentina has scored 11 goals and provided nine assists in 27 overall I-League appearances. His pace and physicality can make him a difficult player to contain. The fans of MDSC will hope that their target man can produce goals at the Durand Cup.

Nikola Stojanovic  (Inter Kashi)

Nikola Stojanovic’s arrival at Inter Kashi was met with excitement amongst the fans. The former Mohammedan SC playmaker adds a lot of quality to the midfield of his new employers. It will be interesting to see how the 29-year-old performs against his former team and impacts the upcoming game.

Did You Know?

• Mohammedan Sporting have scored 6 goals in their last 5 matches.
• Arata Izumi, head coach of Inter Kashi for the Durand Cup, has played over 71 matches in the I-League and 26 matches in the Indian Super League.
• Inter Kashi have scored 11 goals in their last five matches

Telecast

The Durand Cup 2024 game between Mohammedan SC and Inter Kashi will take place at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata on July 28. The game will kick off at 7 PM IST. It will be telecasted live on Sony Ten 2 and will also be available for live streaming on Sony LIV.

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