Kerala, Goa expect tough outing

Jacob is determined not to repeat the mistakes. “Goa are a balanced outfit. They had dominated a good part of their quarterfinal league match against Maharashtra, and deserved a win too. They will indeed be tough opponents.”

Jacob, however, felt it won’t be wise to rate any of the four teams playing the semifinals, above their rivals. “All the four sides are almost of equal strength. It is the day that matters. Luck counts much when the teams are equal on terms,” said Jacob, a former international.

Jacob hoped the team’s key striker Ignatius who had missed Kerala’s last outing would be fit for Wednesday’s match. “He has a hamstring injury, and a final decision on his inclusion would be made only tomorrow.”

Jacob lauded his wingbacks for coming down into attack quite often, and initiating dangerous thrusts from deep in their half, in the quarter-final league match against Bengal. “We played very well in the first half. Vijayan, in particular, excelled as an orchestrator of attacks.”

Marcus Pacheco, the Goan coach, expects Kerala to go all out in the semi-final match. “With a packed stadium urging them on, they would be motivated to give their best on the field,” he said.

Pacheco has no fixed tactics for the match. “We use to adapt to the conditions, and tailor our game according to the rivals’ approach,” he said.

The Goan coach felt his team was given a raw deal by the referee, who overruled the linesman’s decision and gifted’ a flag-kick to Maharashtra in the 74th minute of Monday’s quarter-final league match. “The linesman had ruled an onrushing Maharashtra player off-side, and kept his flag up for a few seconds. He seemed so sure about it,” Pacheco said. Maharashtra struck the equaliser off the resultant flagkick.

“The referee’s decision unsettled the entire team,” said the Goan coach. “The players lost their concentration and temperament. It was a pity that we had to be content with a draw, despite having clear edge over the proceedings.”