MUMBAI ONE OF THE FEW teams to not any points from their first match. They hosted FC Goa in the second round of the ISL.
Balwant started for the home team and Brandon was dropped to the bench after a great performance in the first game.
Mumbai City FC began positively keeping the visitors pressed to their half and forcing them to play among their defence. The home team saw most of the ball in the first 20 minutes of the game. Balwant Singh was played a good ball into space on the left side of the box. The Indian team striker’s first touch took his wide of the box and he had an acute angle at goal from there. His shot could only fins the side netting.
Everton Santos had a good move when he stole ball from the last defender Ali and he rushed to get the ball. He waited for support but none arrived and went for goal with a curling effort but was off target. Mumbai were at the end of a flurry of attacks towards the end of the first half. Seriton almost had an embarrassing moment as his clearance found the back of his own net. Amrinder made a good save from very close range. Raju was there when the save landed just in front of the incoming Goa player. Raju clears it just in time. It was goalless at half time.
The second half saw an energetic start from both teams and chances came flowing at both ends. First chance of the second period fell to Balwant, who tried to find the bottom corner but it was an easy save for Kattimani. Everton was on the far right side and he tried to find a team mate on the other side. He decided to goal for goal and narrowly misses the crossbar.
FC Goa were unlucky as a good move and goal scored by them was ruled offside. Luck again failed them as Coro chipped the ball past Amrinder and the ball hit the post and stayed out. Kattimani was responsible again in gifting a chance to the opposition as he too forever to clear away a back pass and Everton Santos pressed him to block his kick get Mumbai their first goal of the tournament.
Goa continued to press from all sides, Mandaar’s pacy cross from the left was met by no one in the box. Emana who had a good game, made a good run beating a couple of players with just his strength and speed. He could not get his final shot away as it was cleared at the edge of the box.
The Gaurs got the reward for persistence. Brilliant move by Goa saw Coro finding himself a great square ball from Coro to finish off and get the equaliser. A thunderous try from distance saw the ball almost finding the back of the net but an equally good save from Amrinder kept them in the game. A substitution from Mumbai would eventually be a wonderful move, in fact a match-winning move for the home team. Thiago Santos got the ball on the right side and rushed forward toward the byline and then cut through towards the goaline. Kattimani showed too much of the goal to him and he finished it coolly for the winning goal with 3 minutes remaining.
Amrinder had to save a shot from the left and went in to fetch the half-saved shot in the process bringing down a player. But the referee saw nothing wrong in that. Some pushing between players has started in the added minutes of the game but other players were quick to break it up. So 2-1 was the final score to Mumbai’s favour.