MATCH REPORT: Balwant’s brace sinks NorthEast United at their home

TWO GOALS from Balwant Singh helped Mumbai City FC beat NorthEast United FC away. While good saves from Amrinder saw them clean sheet as well.

The home team could have score in the second minute if it wasn’t for the post. Marcinho was played through and had reached the box but surrounded by the defenders. He managed to get his shot away but only to be denied by the post. NEU continued to press and have majority of the ball possession. Another attempt by Narzary saw his cross hit the Goain’s arm in the box but there weren’t too many appeals for handball.

Mumbai took a surprising lead when Emana picked up Balwant’s run from a long way out and Ravi Kumar rushed out of the box to clear but was nowhere close to the ball. Balwant had the simplest task to tapping into an empty net and he did just that. It was almost the first time Mumbai had threatened and they had the lead with that. NEU had lost the momentum after conceding the goal. But they had one chance to enter the box when Marcinho tried to get past the last defender and was caught by the leg of the Mumbai player and went down softly.

The second half began with the home side playing with good speed. Inside the first five minutes of the half, Marcinho was able to be picked behind the defence in the box. His reflex saw him poke the ball with power but could not guide the ball on target. Meitei the second half substitute had a shot on goal and a good one as he struck his shot well just inside the box and Amrinder made a good save.

Balwant was unmarked near the 6 yard box and his header was just above the crossbar. Balwant, however, would get another chance and this time he would not miss. The second goal came via a mistake from Borges and Emana made a dash forward in space and unselfishly squared the ball box for a totally free Balwant allowing him to his second for the night.

Raju Gaikwad could have been on the scoresheet when he made a great run along the left flank and entered box. He saw a gap between the keeper and the post and struck the ball with power, only to hit the post and keeper and the ball rolled on the crossbar but being finally cleared by the defender.

It could have been a hattrick when Balwant was on the ball in the final minute of the game and he saw the keeper off his line but could not beat him with his attempt.

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