Half-time report: Haokip and Dudu shine as Goa dominate Mumbai City at home

Starting Line-Ups:

FC Goa - Laxmikant Kattimani, Lucio, Gregory Arnolin, Raju Gaikwad, Jonatan Lucca, Romeo Fernandes, Mandar Rao Desai, Leo Moura, Jofre, Thongkhosiem Haokip, Dudu Omagbemi

Mumbai City FC - Subrata Pal, Lalchhuan Mawia, Darren O'Dea, Pavel Cmovs, Ashutosh Mehta, Cristian Bustos, Selim Benachour, Nicolas Anelka, Keegan Pereira, Sunil Chhetri, Frederic Piquionne

TWO WELL-CONSTRUCTED GOALS from Thongkhosiem Haokip and Dudu Omagbemi put FC Goa firmly in the lead as they continuously dominated Mumbai City FC throughout the first half.

Both teams came into the game off draws against FC Pune City; performances that had its own positives for each. Hence both coaches had a measured approach to making changes in their respective starting line-ups. 

Zico chose to include Mandar Rao Desai, Dudu Omagbemi and Jofre in the first eleven while Narayan Das was dropped, and injury forced Rafael Coelho and Bikramjit Singh to sit out the night. Anelka chose to make two changes, benching Brandon Fernandes and Subash Singh to make way for Lalchhuan Mawia and Sunil Chhetri.

The home team dominated proceedings from early on and looked like the more organized team in terms of controlling the midfield and putting together attacks. Mandar, Leo Moura and Dudu Omagbemi were involved in onslaughts on the Mumbai defence from the very first minute as Ashutosh Mehta and other defenders got busy blocking and clearing attempts to keep the visitors level.

A throw-in from Raju Gaikwad got a well-placed touch from Cristian Bustos but Subrata made a desperate save. Then Dudu Omagbemi came in with a threatening run and Cmovs had to bring him down to stop the attack.

Mumbai were trying hard to push back but well-coordinated attacks seemed hard to come by. Keegan Pereira made a good run with the ball but made the cross to Sunil Chhetri too late, which meant he was caught offside. The Indian captain was livid with his teammate for the blunder; the move could have gotten Mumbai the one-up they badly needed.

Sunil tried to put together another attack himself as he ran up the right flank and found target man Piquionne with a cross. But Arnolin butten in and made the clearance.

A good chance came for the home team when a Leo Moura free kick was punched away by Subrata and the ball went straight to Romeo, who was standing near the penalty spot with the wide goal in front of him. But his shot went straight skywards. Romeo covered his head and fell to his knees in disappointment and shame.

But thankfully the miss didn't prove to be too costly as soon they got the lead through a brilliant effort from Thongkhosiem Haokip. The ex Pune FC forward ran up with the ball and sent a peach of a through ball to Dudu Omagbemi, nutmegging Pavel Cmovs on the way. Ashutosh Mehta challenged Dudu as he tried to get to the ball. Subrata also rushed ahead to block him. The three bumped into each other as the ball rolled past them all. Haokip, continuing with his run, was the first one to get to the ball and knock it into the open goal. It was goal number 100 in ISL 2015; a memorable one for the Manipuri central medio. 

Goa kept on attacking relentlessly and before Mumbai had the chance to steady themselves after the first goal the Gaurs struck again. It was a brilliant pass from Leo Moura into the Mumbai box where Dudu Omagbemi was waiting to shoot a low one into the corner. 2-0 with 42 minutes on the clock.

Mumbai tried to hit back immediately. And they would have too, but for the dexterity of Laxmikant Kattimani. A Keegan Pereira pass to Anelka saw the player-coach take a one-touch crack at the goal that the Goa keeper punched away. The ball came to Bustos who took a shot again but Laxmikant was already back on his feet, leaping towards the ball to make yet another save, to ensure that FC Goa went into the half-time with a handsome two goal lead.

At this point, things are not looking good for Mumbai. They have been outplayed by Goa in every front and coming back to claim a point from this game seems near impossible. The absence of Sony Norde seems to have cut short their creativity up front. Goa's all-round performance, on the other hand, has re-inforced their image as the table toppers; however close their rivals might be to them on the points table.