Mumbai: Two goals and few decisions going their way was all it needed to help Mumbai City FC register their first win in the fourth edition of Indian Super League. In a game marred by poor refereeing and some sloppy goalkeeping, the home team outclassed FC Goa by a 2-1 margin at the Andheri Sports Complex on Saturday. Everton and Thiago Santos scored for the ‘Islanders,’ while Arana Rodriguez scored the only goal for the away side. Manuel Lanzarote of Goa also had a goal wrongly disallowed for offiside, in the 67th minute.
The home side, playing their first match at home after a shambolic defeat at the hands of ISL newbies Bengaluru FC, looked much better in attacks. They had less of the ball in comaprison to their opposition, but looked threatening everytime they moved forward. Balwant Singh, who returned after missing the first match, owing to injury, impressed and may have well scored the opening goal in the 31st minute but hit the side netting. Moments before that, it was his through ball to Emana Achille, which Goan defender Seriton Fernandes almost put into his own net, after his clearance hit the upright.
Nonetheless, Mumbai finally took the lead in the 58th minute after Goa custodian Kattimani was caught off the ball possession and Everton Santos capitalised on the hesitation to open the ‘Islanders’ account this season.
Interestingly, Kattimani was again responsible for the second goal, as he let one slip in between his legs in the dying moments of the game, handing Mumbai a lucky win. Thiago Did Santos after receiving a pass from Sanju Pradhan made a wonderful run into the Goa D, beating defender Mohammad Ali before placing his shot in between the legs of an unalert Kattimani.
Mumbai may have won, but it was FC Goa who dominated the proceedings with 63% possession and had more shots on target. They were also unfortunate and may have well come out with at least a point if not full three, had a few decision gone their way. A fast counter attack in the 67th minute saw Goa equalise through Lanzarote, but was wrongly adjudged offside by the linesman.
They were on the wrong end of few more decision late into the game, with a clear cut penalty decision not given. A free-kick from Arana was straight at the Mumbai custodian Amrinder, who fluffed the ball from his hands and then fouled Ferran Corominas who had the ball at his feet. However to the away fans’ dismay the referee pointed it as a corner instead of the legitimate penalty.
The ‘Gaurs’ did however scored one, late into the game from a swift counter-attack in the 83rd minute. A great one touch football from the Goa players saw Corominas make a swift run into the Mumbai box before laying a pass for Aran, who made no mistake to put the ball inside the net to give his side a much-awaited goal. It was however not enough as Mumbai scored one within the next five minutes to come out victorious.
Coach Lobera however will rue the wrongly disallowed goal and the penalty claim in the dying moments, which was not given. With three points from two away matches Goa will nonetheless be happy as they return for their first home match against Bengaluru FC on Thursday.