Rajasthan United might have been undone late in the second half against Kerala Blasters, but against Mumbai City FC, it showed exactly why it had brought Vikrant Sharma back as head coach.
Vikrant had helped Rajasthan earn I-League promotion in 2021, and under his coaching, the team beat the Islanders, the 2023-24 Indian Super League (ISL) Cup champions.
Against Sporting Club Delhi, the team will look to pull off a similar victory, albeit with a bigger margin of victory, to fancy a chance in the final four of the AIFF Super Cup, at the GMC Athletic Stadium in Bambolim.
Colombian No. 9 Robinson Blandon will be Rajasthan’s target man for goals, while Pangambam Naoba Meitei will be on Delhi’s radar for his witty runs along the flanks — one that ultimately led to Rajasthan’s winning goal in the previous match.
But the permutations are barely in its favour, with Mumbai City FC facing Kerala Blasters in the other group stage match later in the day, at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao.
Rajasthan will have to win by at least four goals, and expect the Blasters to lose by a scoreline of 0-1. Only then can the I-League side complete a miracle.
In the other match, a menacing Blasters attack will travel to Fatorda for the final round, having thrashed Delhi in the previous match. The last clash between the sides ended in a 1-0 win for the Blasters, which delayed Mumbai City’s qualification for the ISL playoffs last season.
The scorer in that match – Kwame Peprah – has moved on from the club, but its new attack, led by Spaniard Koldo Obieta, has looked extremely dangerous on the break. Two of his three goals have come from counterattacks.
Blasters’ coach David Catala might try new signing Tiago Alves on the left of Obieta, with Noah Sadaoui failing to make an impact in his first start in the Super Cup against Delhi. Nihal Suheesh and Korou Singh Thingujam are likely to continue along the right flank.
For the Blasters, the current table toppers, the qualification criterion is simple: anything but a loss will be enough.
Meanwhile, Mumbai City’s clearest route to the semis would be to beat the Blasters by two goals. Petr Kratky’s side was left frustrated for most of the game against Rajasthan, with Jorge Pereyra Diaz and Jorge Ortiz tightly marked in the final third.
Kratky’s decision to change goalkeepers from Phurba Lachenpa to T.P. Rehenesh in the previous game also cost the side heavily, and the Czech will probably return to the 2023-24 ISL Golden Glove winner.
Mumbai City might be missing some key players – Lalengmawia (Apuia) Ralte and captain Rahul Bheke — from that victorious 2023-24 season, but Lallianzuala Chhangte, Ortiz and Pereyra Diaz have enough muscle to find a way.
However, Kratky will be careful not to employ a wider formation like 4-4-2, one that was exploited with authority by Rajasthan the last time around.
Match schedule
Rajasthan United vs Sporting Club Delhi — 4:30 pm, Bambolim
Mumbai City FC vs Kerala Blasters — 7:30 pm, Margao
Published on Nov 05, 2025