Mumbai FC finally find the target snatch maiden victory

Mumbai FC match report

by Suman Gupta

Mumbai FC finally find the target 

snatch maiden victory

Mumbai, January 24: Mumbai FC scored their maiden win when they overcame Salgaocar SC, Goa 2-1 in a third round match of the 2015-2016 AIFF Hero I-League football tournament, and played at the Cooperage ground on Sunday evening. The Mumbai outfit enjoyed a slender 1-0 half-time advantage.

Mumbai FC after failing to score in 180 minutes of play (in the opening two games) finally ended the goal drought when skipper Taisuke Matsugae blasted home the opening goal in the 37^th minute. Later Sushil Kumar Singh did well to put the finishing touch from a Taisukae assist in the 48^th minute. Jackichand scored the lone goal for the Goans in the 66^th minute.

After three games, Mumbai FC who are unbeaten in the last six games since April 2015, now have five points and are fourth on the table. Salgaocar dismal run continued as they suffered their third straight defeat and are at the bottom of the table.

Earlier, both the teams showed little urgency at the start and there were hardly much to cheer for the Sunday gathering that had turned up in fairly large numbers to witness the contest.

But midway through the first session, Mumbai FC coach Khalid Jamil’s decision to switch positions of wing halves Eric Brown to the left and Jayesh Rane on the right their attack started to function. In the 19^th minute Izumi Arata with a diagonal pass found new recruit Ryuki Kozawa on the left who cut past defender Keenan Almeida and pushed across. Arata darted to meet the cross but his try was blocked by an alert Salgaocar goalkeeper Karanjit Singh for a corner. From the resultant corner Jayesh Rane with a well direct kick found the head of Pratik Chowdhary who was left unmarked inside the six yard box but he headed way over the crossbar.

Later, Mumbai FC wasted another clear chance when Jayesh Rane with a header off Brown’s cross from the left found Taisuke free on the right side of the box. But Taisuke’s hasty shot whizzed wide across the goal in the 33^rd minute. However, Taisuke atoned for that miss when he found the target with a rasping right-footed drive from just outside the box. Goalkeeper Karanjit Singh managed to get his finger tips to the ball but could not prevent it from entering the goal.

On the stroke of the half-time whistle Mumbai FC goal survived a scare when goalkeeper Pawan Kumar fumbled with collection off Gurjinder Singh’s free-kick from the right. The ball deflected off his hands and struck the crossbar. He again failed to collect cleanly but defender Min-Chol Son, who had a good game, cleared the ball away for a corner.

Soon after resumption the Mumbai side doubled the lead when Sushil Kumar Singh did well to put the finishing touch after Taisuke had done the spadework in the 48^th minute. Taisuke was later adjudged ‘Man-of-the-match’ and was presented with a Trophy and a cheque of Rs 10,000 by MDFA Chairman Aditya Thackeray.

Despite trailing 0-2 the Goans fought on gamely and came up with a couple of raids to put Mumbai FC defence under pressure and were fortunate to find the net in the 66^th minute. Jackichand Singh from the right sent long chip which eluded the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Pawan Kumar and dipped into the far corner.

Thereafter, Salgaocar continued to pile on the pressure but they were kept in check by some resolute defending. In the 85^th minute Salgaocar almost got the equalizer but Darryl Duffy’s header from Gurjinder Kumar’s free-kick grazed the crossbar and went over.

Coach Jamil credited his players for their good showing which resulted in the win. “Everybody played well and worked very hard for this win. It’s good to win at home,” Jamil said after the game.

Mumbai FC take on Bengaluru FC in the next round on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 at 7.00pm.

Result – Mumbai FC (Taisuke Matsugae 37^th, Sushil Kumar Singh 48^th) beat Salgaocar SC (Jackichand Singh 66^th). Man-of-the-match: Taisuke Matsugae (Mumbai FC).

Photos: Pic-1 - Mumbai FC captain Taisuke Matsugae runs with the ball past a Salgaocar defender during their I-League match at the Cooperage ground on Sunday. Taisuke scored a goal and helped in the second as Mumbai FC won 2-1. Photo credit: Pushpak Shirwadkar.