BFC were the ISL 2018-19 champions, but also have six other top domestic titles to their name and will be vying for their seventh. They have presented the most successful striking force of the tournament with talisman Sunil Chhetri, Roy Krishna and Siva Sakthi, all being in goal-scoring form
The 34-day tournament played across three states for the first time will culminate with the 47th and final match between two top teams and former champions of the Indian Super League (ISL), India's topmost football division. While BFC would be fighting for its seventh domestic title, MCFC
It was a largely cagey second semi-final played here at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) with HFC having the lion's share of chances as well as possession and their star striker Batholomew Ogbeche being wasteful for once, but in the end, the Blues did well enough to win the batt
BFC too have had stops and starts in their campaign and scraped through a 10-man Odisha FC in the quarter-finals, with the last touch winner from Roy Krishna following a monumental blunder by the Juggernaut's keeper in the dying seconds.
The ISL side put past three with the help of Ogbeche (6'), Akash Mishra (45'), and Javier Siverio (68') whereas Rajasthan United FC managed to equalise with a goal from Martin Chaves (29', P) but it was too little to make any difference.
Both teams have taken contrasting routes to reach the knockouts. While BFC played all their games in Kolkata and won three out of four to qualify in as Group A second place holders, OFC won all their four games to qualify as Group D toppers from the Guwahati leg of the tournament.
Among the Goa players, Hrithik Tiwari, Salman Faris, Lalremruata HP, Jovial Dias and Phrangki Buam will be the key players to watch out for. Goalkeeper Hrithik has been in fine form of late, making several fine saves including a save from a penalty in the last game.
FC Goa joins Mohammedan Sporting and Bengaluru FC with three points in Group A, even though the latter have a game in hand. Jamshedpur FC is the other team in the Group. The top two teams from each Group qualify for the quarter-finals.