Dias does it for Mumbai: gets goal & assist to help them beat Lajong 2-1, get ahead in relegation race

THE NIGHT WAS STILL at the Cooperage. There wasn't much wind blowing around and the sticky heat hung around the turf-and-iron arena as an unpleasant reminder of the ruthless stakes for the two combating clubs. 

Mumbai FC and Shillong Lajong were playing to stay up in the top division. Mumbai, bottom of the table with just 13 points from 14 games, had to get at least a draw in this game to retain some hope of saving their season on the last matchday. Lajong, on 15 points, were nowhere near "safe" either as they were desperately looking for at least a point from this game to escape relegation; because playing East Bengal on 24th April wasn't something to bet on.

The match began with a fiery Darwinian vibe all over it. Early on Fabio brought down Eric Brown with the roughness of a Derby. 

It was clear that the home side who come into the game with more eagerness. They got a couple of early chances that got the fanbase going. A cross came in for Steven Dias but the veteran couldn't find the finisher. Then Sushil Jumar Singh came in with a tight pass for Eric Brown who took a crack at the goal but only found the side netting.

But Mumbai soon ran into some troubled waters with trusted frontman Allan Dias picking up an injury and havint to be replaced with Hitesh Sharma. But the players didn't let it show much. Jayesh Rane fired a ball towards Sushil who let fly but it got cleared. 

Lajong took some time to ease into the contest. After spending a few minutes consolidating their defensive game they started moving up on a few counters. 

Penn moved up to set Fabio up for a shot that went off target. Then Haokip sent one in for Fabio and it went into the side-netting. Then Penn himself got into the box past Son Min-chol and fired on the hole but it went just above the target.

But it was Mumbai FC who turned around and drew the first blood. Eric Brown came straight towards the box and got fouled just outside it. Steven Dias took the resulting free kick and found the corner with the ease of the skilled veteran that he is. Mumbai went 1-0 ahead just before half-time.

The second half started with a lot of in-the-box action on both sides as Lajong broke into the Mumbai half and Fabio set up Samuel Shadap for the easiest opportunity of the game yet but the latter somehow managed to miss it. Then on the other end Jayesh Rane only had Lajong keeper Vishal Kaith ahead of him but the custodian sprinted ahead, punching it clear. Hitesh Sharma got hold of the ball but couldn't do much with it.

Mumbai kept pressing. Brown had a crack, it came off the crossbar. Then Rane took a shot too, and once again found the woodwork. Samuel Shadap ran in to make a reckless tackle on Jayesh and got booked for it. Then Penn Orji made one of his famous cavalry charges off a counter, clearing almost all defenders in his wake. Only Anwar Ali could get near him, and all he could do to stop the attacking medio was to bring him down. Unfortunately for Mumbai he did it inside the penalty box. Anwar got booked and who else but Fabio Pena stepped up to take the penalty. He ran up, stopped, allowed keeper Kunal Sawant to dive the other way, and shot it right in. It was 1-1.

Khalid Jamil made some changes. A largely ineffective Hitesh Sharma made way for Ryuki Kozawa. And Eric Brown had picked up a strain on his leg, so he had to be replaced by Arata Izumi, much to the delight of the Yellow Brigade.

Steven Dias was still trying his best. He sent a good ball for Sushil Kumar but the latter couldn't keep it on target. Penn ran up in counter, had a shot on target but Kunal Sawant got to it. Sushil led the charge for Mumbai, taking a shot that Vishal deflected for a corner.

The minutes were wearing on and it seemed like the game was heading for a draw. But then a match-ruining error from the Lajong goalkeeper changed the whole picture. 

Mumbai FC had a corner. Steven Dias sent it in, and Son Min-chol managed to get a harmless-looking header on it. The ball was easily within Vishal Kaith's reach, but he fumbled and practically allowed the ball to pass through his armpit. To the utter shock of the Lajong players, bench and the handful of supporters present in the arena, the ball had found the net.

That was it. Shillong Lajong could not build back any pressure on the home team. Mumbai FC played out the last few minutes and inevitably clinched the win with the final whistle. It was a welcome victory; they were now on 16 points, above Shillong Lajong, on the league table. They still need a point on the last day when they take on DSK Shivajians in a Maharashtra Derby match just to be safe in case Shillong Lajong pick up a win against East Bengal; but the squad looked confident enough at the end. Ashutosh Mehta went as far as yelling to the fans, "We are staying! We are staying!"

Left at the bottom on 15 points, the pressure is now on Shillong Lajong. Unless they get a draw against East Bengal at home next Sunday, they will get relegated. With the onus of survival entirely on them now, coach Thangboi Singto will be looking at some tense nights ahead.