MATCH REPORT: Gaurs gore the Mumbaikars to record highest victory margin in ISL history

THE GAURS RAVAGED a hapless Mumbai City at Fatorda tonight as hat-tricks from Dudu Omagbemi and Thongkhosiem Haokip led table toppers FC Goa to a 7-0 win, the highest margin of victory in the history of ISL.

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.

Knowing that coming back into this game to claim even one point was going to require a monumentous effort, Anelka showed some early initiative by swapping Lalchhuan Mawia and Ashutosh Mehta with Sampath Kuttymani and Kingshuk Debnath. But it had little discernible effect on the match as FC Goa went on an absolute rampage and walked all over the visitors' defence throughout the second half.

It began with the 3rd goal in the 52nd minute. Jofre's scooped cross reached Haokip who put the ball into the net to claim his second goal. Soon after, Dudu sent the ball home off a Leo Moura free kick but it was ruled out for offside.

But that was only a precursor to the absolute menace he was about to bring down on Anelka's boys. Just after the clock passed the hour mark, he got his second goal. Jofre took a free kick that Lucio directed towards the goal. Subrata made a great save, but the ball went straight towards Dudu who slammed it into the goal with a mocking high boot. 

And within 3 minutes he had scored again. Selim Benachour lost the ball to Leo Moura who made inroads into the Mumbai box and passed it to Dudu Omagbemi who tapped it in. Goa were now 5-0 up, and Dudu had completed his hat-trick. He was substituted by Reinaldo soon after, and he left the field to a standing ovation from the 18,000-odd fans who had turned up at the Fatorda stadium, with a satisfied smile on his face.

But the night was still young. Thongkhosiem Haokip  had gotten two goals so far and wasn't giving up without a hat-trick of his own. And so it was that around the 80th minute, a brilliant run from Romeo saw him tear past the Mumbai defence and send a cracker towards the goal. Poor Subrata once again made a great save but the ball went towards an onrushing Haokip who mercilessly slotted it in over a helpless Mumbai City keeper lying face down on the ground. 

Goa were now six goals up. The highest margin ever in the history of ISL. But they wanted to rub it further in. So in the 90th minute Mandar sent a cross into the Mumbai box. Leo Moura headed it towards Reinaldo. Reinaldo tapped it home. Seven nil.

It was complete humiliation for Mumbai City. The way FC Goa played the game it looked like they were playing one of those pre-season friendlies against one of the local clubs. The visitors never managed to get a moment to breathe and build towards something. Their midfield was seemingly invisible and their forwards got little service. And even the few times they managed to push forward they didn't really look threatening. 

Maybe it's the travel fatigue setting in on the team. Perhaps it's a strategic failure. People may start connecting this shambolic performance with the departure of Oscar Bruzon and the rumoured discord in the dressing room. Mumbai City will hope they manage to sort out their defence before they take on NorthEast United away from home on Friday, and the return of Sony Norde will bring sharpness back to their attack.

As for FC Goa, they now look like true table toppers. With 18 points from 10 matches, the best goal difference in the tournament (+8) and the record of the biggest win in ISL history under their belt, they look like a team well-rounded and highly disciplined, with enough squad depth to endure a tournament like this. The midfield-heavy 3-4-1-2 formation that Zico used with Jofre at number 10 worked wonders to split the opponent defence apart; and looked especially scary with the pace of Mandar Rao Desai and Romeo Fernandes in the wings. The passing and finishing, too, has been near perfect tonight. 

It was just one of those nights; a full-on delightful treat for the home fans.

And the fixture sequence couldn't have been any better. When Zico's boys will travel to Kolkata to play the defending champions on Sunday night it will be with the aim to seal their claim as the true leader in the title challenge. 

The ISL regular season is nearing its end, and fittingly, the big guns have come out with explosive performances to guide the tournament to a climatic finish.