NorthEast United FC go into their final game of the Indian Super League on Wednesday as they host FC Pune City at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati.
Cesar Farias' side are currently fifth in the table with 17 points, just two below Chennaiyin FC who still have a game to play this season. The final position of the ISL playoffs this year is for the South Indian side to lose, but it's not over yet. The full three points on 2 December can give NorthEast United FC some reason to still keep their hopes alive.
FC Pune City, meanwhile, have two games to go this season, and they are currently on 15 points. A win can give them a major boost so as to make it to the semis as well.
With six games remaining in the league this season, expect every match to be crucial. Atletico de Kolkata, Delhi Dynamos and FC Goa have already progressed to the semifinals, and either Chennaiyin FC, NorthEast United FC, or FC Pune City can join the trio.
Venezuelan coach Farias remains upbeat of his team's chances, never mind the nimble chance available to make it to the next round. He has urged his side to showcase the concentration and the fighting spirit in the game on Wednesday night.
"It's true that we had a big possibility in the last game [vs Delhi Dynamos FC which NorthEast lost 2-1] but we let it slip through our hands. But it also true that we still have a possibility, it's not impossible," the NorthEast United FC coach said.
"You have got to keep going and concentrate on what's coming up next. We'll fight till we've the slightest of chances to make it. These are big games and a win can make all the difference for us," Farias added.
For FC Pune City coach David Platt, it is all about going into their penultimate game with the mindset of getting a victory. The Maharashtran side have not won any of their last six games in the ISL, but the Englishman says that qualification for the semis lie solely in the hands of his men.
"We will confront the game to win as we always do. We wouldn't change much. My routine is to go through the same process," Platt said. "We have 90 minutes to win the game of football. It is like a final but we have our fate in our own hands, we are not dependent on other results."
Pune won 1-0 against North East in the first leg tie.
Where to watch the game
The second leg tie between between NorthEast United FC and FC Pune City is scheduled to kick-off at 7 pm IST (2:30 pm BST, 9:30 am ET).
The viewers in India can catch the game on Star Sports 2, Star Sports HD2, Star Sports 3, Star Sports HD3, Star Utsav, Star Gold (both Hindi), Asianet Movies (Malayalam),Jaya Max (Tamil), Suvarna TV (Kannada) and Jalsha Movies (Bengali). The live streaming is available on Starsports.com and Hotstar.
The viewers in the UK, South East Asia, Singapore, and Hong Kong can catch the game onStar Gold.
The viewers in Canada can watch the game on CBN and ATN.
The viewers in the US and Australia can tune in to Fox Sports. The live streaming is available on Foxsoccer2Go and Foxtel.
Eurosport remains the destination for the viewers in Europe. The live streaming is available on Eurosport Player.
Audience in the Middle East and North Africa can also catch the ISL game on OSN, with live streaming option on OSN Play.
