Bhubaneswar: The 2019 champions FC Goa will take on first-time finalists Jamshedpur FC in the summit clash of the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 on Saturday at Kalinga Stadium. The champion will qualify for the 2025-26 Champions League Two Preliminary Round.
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.
Darkhorse Jamshedpur FC surprised many teams as well as his coach Khalid Jamil. “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 Khalid Jamil in the pre-match press conference on Friday.
His counterpart, FC Goa head coach Manolo Márquez, 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."
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 Márquez. "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 final, and I think that it's not important what happened in the past."
