First-half drama seals Mumbai City the win, kicking off Group-B match up
Mumbai City FC secures their 3-1 victory over local favourites Mohammedan Sporting, at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan, Playing their first match of the 132nd Indian Oil Durand Cup, the Islanders scored three goals in the first 35 minutes of the game, later on, the Black and White brigade made a game after their confidence was boosted by Lalhlansanga strike in the 41st minute. Rostyn, Diaz and Chhangte scored for the Islanders to secure the win. This was the first match of Group B and the 2nd game of the day.
First-Half
Mumbai City got on the scoreline in the 12th minute when Griffiths rose high on the back post off after a corner by Stewart, to head home. The ball hit the underside of the bar before going in.
The second goal came just over 10 minutes from the Argentine forward Jorge Peryra Diaz, who tapped in a rebound off keeper Jongte after Spaniard Alberto Ripoll had shot at goal.
10 more minutes later, Ripoll helped out, when he found Bipin Singh’s surging run on the left wing. Bipin’s measured cross across the face of the goal and found Chhangte at the end , who made no mistake.
The Black and White brigade then brought the spectators to life with a goal of their own when it came off from a corner taken short, Samad Mallick’s cross saw David rise brilliantly to head in. Giving the local fans a hope for a comeback.
Second-Half
Alexis Gomez missed a sitter and a golden opportunity to reduce the scoreline in the 55th minute he when off a Remsanga cut back inside the opposition box and found himself in the clear but his right footer was off target. That was Remsanga’s last contribution after then Ganesh Besra replaced him.
At the hour mark, Mumbai City FC’s Des Buckingham brought in two changes. Dutchman Yoell van Nieff and Vikram Pratap Singh replaced Peryra Diaz and Chhangte, as Mohammedan were beginning to get more positive in the game.
Bipin Singh had a shot in the 65th minute and eventually hit the bar as the Islanders pressed as hard as they could to put the game beyond the local side. Mohammedan were also getting their chances and in the 79th minute, Besra and Tanmoy Ghosh combined with the latter’s flying header just off the target.
That was perhaps the last real chance secured by either side as Mumbai City pick up the full 3 points to take the top spot in the group for the time being.
