Depleted Salgaocar face Mohun Bagan challenge

Margao, April 13 (IANS) Salgaocar Sports Club will find themselves severely depleted as they prepare to take on the might of Mohun Bagan in the 25th round I-League clash at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, here Saturday.

The I-League champions will have to do without the services of Nigerian striker Edeh Chidi, Ryuji Sueoka, Tomba Singh, all due to injuries, while Gilbert D'Mello remains suspended for what is expected to be an entertaining clash.

All the players, except for Gilbert, also missed the AFC Cup clash against Al Wehdat.

"We will be missing some players but I am ok with it. The rest of the squad proved themselves in the AFC Cup match and I am sure they will repeat their performance. I am happy to welcome (captain) Luciano back in the team," said Salgaocar coach Bencherifa.

Neither Salgaocar nor Mohun Bagan are challenging for the title, but Bencherifa said he had never set his eyes so far.

"I have always set small targets for the team and our only target at the moment is to take three points from Mohun Bagan," he said.

Mohun Bagan have arrived in Goa with a full strength squad and technical director Subrata Bhattacharya hoped that his star players can deliver.

With 43 points and two matches in hand, all that Bagan can hope is finish second behind league leaders Dempo Sports Club.

The first round clash between Salgaocar and Mohun Bagan in Kolkata had ended goalless.