Half Time Report: A sharper Mumbai lead through early goal against disoriented Dynamos

Starting Line-Ups:

Mumbai City FC - Subrata Paul, Lalchhuan Mawia, Darren O'dea, Pavel Cmovs, Aitor Fernandez, Cristian Bustos, Sunil Chhetri, Juan Aguilera, Sony Norde, Gabriel Fernandes, Subash Singh

Delhi Dynamos FC - Toni Doblas, Souvik Chakraborty, John Arne Riise, Anas Edathodika, Chicao, Francis Fernandes, Gustavo Marmentini, Hans Mulder, Sehnaj Singh, Robin Singh, Florent Malouda

The Indian captain Sunil Chhetri shined on his second start for Mumbai City as he got them an all-important one goal lead in the first half. Leading Delhi Dynamos 1-0 at half-time, Mumbai are looking at a potential win at home, their very first of the season.

Mumbai City went in with a squad bearing 5 changes, with the likes of Juan Aguilera, Aitor Lopez, Darren O'Dea, Subash Singh and Gabriel Fernandes being brought into the first eleven. Delhi Dynamos mostly went with the squad that started against Kerala Blasters, with the exception of Zohmingliana Ralte being benched in favour of Sehnaj Singh.

The match began with a Mumbai City team finally finding their rhythm in the midfield. The likes of Gabriel Fernandes, Cristian Bstos and Sony Norde were giving their best to keep the possession and maintain an attacking posture as much as possible, while Subrata Paul made for a reassuring presence behind their back. Playing Sunil Chhetri at number 10 instead of right up front was proving to be fruitful too, as they were about to find out.

Delhi did get a few moments at the beginning. Malouda had a crack at goal from afar that did not do much. They got a free-kick from a Cristian Bustos foul on Gustavo (resulted in a yellow card) but nothing came off it.

But Mumbai City were constantly looking to move up on the counter. Gabriel Fernandes tried once or twice but Souvik got in his way.

The breakthrough for Mumbai City came after 12 minutes through a brilliant team effort. Bustos robbed Mulder and sent the ball ahead for Norde whose shot hit Anas Edathodika and went straight to Sunil Chhetri who made no mistake putting it past Doblas into the goal.

Buoyed by the lead, Mumbai launched into a period of high pressure. Sony Norde was the danger man in the final third as he spearheaded a number of onslaughts into the Delhi box. He fooled his Mohun Bagan teammate Souvik Chakraborty to get in deep and send in a dangerous cross which was cleared by Riise. He followed it up with a quality free-kick that almost went in through the edge but Doblas, who was having a great night apart from the goal conceded, managed to get a touch on it, clearing it for a corner.

Juan Aguilera now got into the act, sending a priceless through ball to Norde who ran way past the Delhi defensive line. He sent in a good cross to Subash Singh whose shot was off target.

Delhi tried to fight back. Malouda made a run deep into the Mumbai box and took a shot, but an onrushing Subrata Paul blocked it. Immediately, Mumbai City retaliated with Sony Norde going past Anas and take a shot at the goal and miss the target by whiskers.

A dangerous move from the left flank saw Aguilera bring Gustavo down just outside the penalty box. Malouda stepped up to take the free-kick, but Cmovs managed to clear the delivery which went back to Malouda, who was dispossessed by Gabriel Fernandes.

Goalscorer SUnil Chhetri, meanwhile, picked up a yellow of his own by making a loose but potentially dangerous foul. 

The Mumbai defence continued to make the Delhi players sweat as many of them were reduced to taking shots from a distance, as the first half came to a close.

Although the game has been almost equal in terms of possession and shots on goal, Mumbai City have looked the sharper side all evening. Delhi's defence is suffering for one or two weak links like Anas Edathodika. And Mumbai City, for the first time, look a side streamlined, with the link-up play between defence and midfield smoothened up, and the high work rate of the attacking players proving especially fruitful to gel with the rest of the squad. 

The second half will be a more stern test for Mumbai defence as Roberto Carlos is bound to turn on the aggressiveness in order to get back in the game. Richard Gadze, who came off the bench in their previous game and scored a winner, is present in the dug-out and itching to come on.