Kerala Blasters and NorthEast United take on each other in a do-or-die battle to decide who make it to the last remaining play-offs spot of the Indian Super League football season three here tomorrow.
Mumbai City FC, Delhi Dynamos and Atletico de Kolkata have already qualified for the semifinals and tomorrow's match, the last game of the league stage, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here will decide who between Kerala Blasters and NorthEast United joins them as the fourth team.
Tomorrow's match will also decide the ranking of the teams who qualified for the play-offs and hence who takes on whom in the semifinals. The top-ranked team will face the fourth-placed side of the league phase while the second-placed will take on the third.
Kerala, who are currently at fourth spot with 19 points from 13 matches, will start at an advantage as they just need a draw tomorrow to qualify for the semifinals. They will also have an extra motivation to play to their best as the grand finale of the ISL 3 will be played at the same venue on December 18.
On the other hand, NorthEast United, who are currently at fifth position with 18 points from 13 matches, will need to win tomorrow to make it to the semifinals. They are on a high after beating Delhi Daynamos 2-1 at home in their previous match.
Kerala head coach Steve Coppell said his side will play for a win but indicated that his approach to the game may change as the match progresses.
"We will just play. I don't know how to play for a draw. We play to try and win a game. As the game develops, obviously people make decisions. The coaches will try and change (approach). As the game develops, the consequences will become apparent but certainly at the start, we are going in to win, trying to win. That's the only way we can approach," said Coppell at the pre-match media interaction.
Kerala have been strong at home, winning four matches in a row while their away performance has been patchy. Coppell admitted they had their "pants taken off" against Mumbai City FC -- when they lost 0-5 on November 19 in Mumbai -- but they can find comfort in home surroundings.
"I think it's the best atmosphere at any of the ground we have played. There is the biggest crowd, the best atmosphere. It's a wise decision by the league to select Kochi (as venue for the final). Kerala loves football, the people love their football and whether we are in the final or not, I am sure the people here will embrace the final and make it a great spectacle for everyone watching," said Coppell.
Kerala will be without midfielder Mehtab Hossain tomorrow as he has been suspended.
NorthEast have never made it to the knock-out stage in the previous two seasons and will be determined to qualify for the first time in three attempts.
"I am sure tomorrow we will have a fantastic atmosphere.
It's hard for one of the teams who will be out but this is the best side of football. You can say we played enough quality football to be already qualified. (But) Football is not only performance, it's about results. Tomorrow we will be here for one thing: result, and as you know, performance is forgotten and result remains forever. I hope we can have a great game," said NorthEast head coach Nelo Vingada.
Vingada is aware that Kerala will have an added advantage because they will be backed by a crowd of approximately 55,000 for the "final of a World Cup for both teams". But the Portuguese coach fancies his team's chances.
"Kerala has an advantage with 50,000 to 55,000 fans supporting them but that will not be enough. Who can win the game are the players inside the field. I know it will be hard for us because we must win and we are here to win," said Vingada.
Interestingly, the two teams were the first to play each other this season as ISL 2016 kicked off in Guwahati on October 1 with NorthEast United scoring a solitary goal victory at home.
