Bhubaneswar, May 2: After 13 days of relentless action, 15 contenders have been reduced to two, come the final day of the Kalinga Super Cup 2025. The 2019 champions FC Goa will take on first-time finalists Jamshedpur FC in the summit clash on Saturday.

The winner of the match will also qualify for the 2025-26 AFC Champions League Two Preliminary Round.

On one hand are FC Goa, aiming not only to become the first team to win this trophy twice but also to end their four-year absence from continental football. The Gaurs' sole campaign in Asia came in the 2021 AFC Champions League. On the other hand, Jamshedpur FC are in uncharted territory, ending a run of two semi-final losses in the Super Cup to reach their first-ever final in any competition in the club's eight-year history.

Having missed out on qualifying for the AFC Champions League after a play-off defeat in 2023, the Men of Steel now have another golden chance to earn their maiden ticket to Asia.

"For us, it's very important because it would be the first time that we qualify for an Asian competition, so we'll try to give our best," said Jamshedpur FC head coach Khalid Jamil in the pre-match press conference on Friday

His counterpart, FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez, said, "When you have this opportunity (to qualify for Asia), obviously you have to be very motivated. FC Goa already played in the Champions League four years ago. Jamshedpur never did. But both teams would want to make it to this competition."

It would be the fourth meeting between FC Goa and Jamshedpur FC in the Super Cup, making it the joint most-played fixture in the tournament's history. If the past three matches, where a staggering 21 goals were scored, are anything to go by, one can definitely expect fireworks on Saturday as well. The Gaurs came out on top in both quarter-final clashes in the 2018 and 2019 editions, winning 5-1 and 4-3, respectively. In the 2023 group stage in Kozhikode, the Red Miners bagged a 5-3 victory.

However, this season in the ISL, Jamshedpur did the double over Goa, winning 2-1 in Fatorda and 3-1 at the Furnace.

"Every game is different," said Marquez. "We can say that we finished second, and Jamshedpur finished 10 points below us, but we lost both games against them. They were much better than us in Jamshedpur. In Goa, maybe in the first half we were better, and they were better in the second. Now, it's a final, and I think that it's not important what happened in the past."

Jamil, concurring with Marquez, said, "It is absolutely correct that this is a totally different game. We have to be strong. We must know that we are going to play against a good team, which I give a lot of respect to because they are technically very strong. So, we have to give our best."

Jamshedpur FC, who had the second-worst defence in the ISL, letting in 46 goals this season, have surprisingly not conceded a single one in their three games so far in the Kalinga Super Cup. Jamil's side beat Hyderabad 2-0, NorthEast United on penalties after a goalless draw, before nicking a 1-0 win over Mumbai City in the semi-final. En route to the final, Goa beat Gokulam Kerala 3-0, Punjab FC 2-1 and Mohun Bagan SG 3-1. With both teams having lost the ISL semi-finals, the Kalinga Super Cup final is perfectly poised for them to win the trophy and end the season on the best note.

"Fifteen teams tried to win the tournament. We knew that we had to win four games and, thanks to the team, we've already won three. There are no easy games here. Let's see what happens," said Marquez.

FC Goa captain and defender Odei Onaindia said, "From the beginning, we said that we wanted to win this tournament. So now we are here in the final and prepared to do it. We know that we will face a very good team, who had an amazing season. We know the quality of the players. So we are prepared for a tough game."

Jamil said, "There are no predictions. Everybody knows it's an important game for both of us, and we have to get a positive result. We need to be confident."

Nikhil Barla, Jamshedpur’s 21-year-old forward, said, "It is a great feeling for me to play this final. I joined the academy in 2018, and now I'm playing for the senior team. It is a proud moment for me and my family."

Unlike so far in the tournament, when the matches ending in a draw after 90 minutes went straight to penalties, the final will have 30 minutes of extra time. While Jamshedpur have already tasted a victory in the quarter-final against NorthEast United FC, Marquez also has good memories from 12 yards, winning the 2021-22 ISL Cup on penalties with Hyderabad.

"There's always a possibility for penalties. I don't agree when people say penalties are a lottery. For me, it's not. If there's a good goalkeeper, and some player is tired, you have to be calm. You've got to show your quality at that moment and be prepared for all situations," said Marquez.

The final will be telecast live on Star Sports 3 and streamed on JioHotstar. (IANS)

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