SHILLONG: Mumbai FC came back from behind to pull off an upset win over hosts Shillong Lajong FC in an Airtel I-League match at the JN Stadium here on Sunday. The 2-1 win against the Reds helped Mumbai to break their long run without victory.
Lajong’s Cornell Glen opened the scoring in the 18th minute, but sloppy defence saw the visitors equalise in the 45th minute through Alfred Jaryan before Ashutosh Mehta scored the winner in the 50th minute.
Mumbai had not won for eight League matches and three more in the Federation Cup, last tasting victory on December 7 against Pune FC.
With this win, Mumbai now have 24 points from their 21 matches and are 6 points ahead of Mohammedan Sporting who are rock bottom of the chart, though the Black and Whites have a game in hand.
Lajong, who technically played their last home game of the season on Sunday, dropped down to the seventh place and now have 29 points from their 21 matches.
The Reds started on a confident note, looking dangerous in the opening minutes of the contest with Glen and Uilliams Souza Silva pairing well up front.
The first chance of the match fell to the home side after they had earned a free-kick just outside the Mumbai box. Uilliams Souza unleashed a powerful effort from the set-piece, but goalkeeper Nidhin Lal was alert enough to thwart the danger.
Another opportunity came Lajong’s way in the 12th minute but this time as the Mumbai FC custodian pulled off a super save to parry a powerful shot taken by Cornell Glen from the left of the box. The ball fell in front of Uilliams on the rebound, but the Brazilian failed take advantage of it.
It was in the 18th minute that the Trinidadian striker Glen delivered with his 10th goal of the season by moving his way into the box and placing a sure right-footer wide of Mumbai goalkeeper Nidhin Lal.
Only a few minutes later Taisuke Matsugae had a brilliant chance to double the lead but his shot from the right of the box missed the far post by a whisker.
The equaliser for Mumbai came in the 45th minute. A corner for the visitors was not dealt with by the Lajong defence and Jaryan managed to knock the ball in from very close range.
Crossing over, the Shillong team conceded the lead within few minutes of play with confusion among the defenders and goalie. A long ball from Mumbai should have seen Robin Gurung do better with his header to the keeper, but the ball went straight up and no Lajong player followed up. Mehta then found himself in clear air and hammered the ball past goalkeeper Lalthuammawia Ralte.
The hosts began to see almost all of the possession around the hour-mark, but could not make headway against a determined defence.
Their best bet came when Wailadmi Passah attempted a shot from midway up the Mumbai half, forcing Nidhin to tip the ball over the bar in the first minute of stoppage time.
Mumbai held on until the end, seizing three valuable points for the team as they fight off their relegation worries.
Lajong coach Thangboi Singto backed his players after the match saying that they have put in a good effort.
Singto, however, rued the missed chances in the first half which could have changed the course of the match.
Rival coach Khalid Jamil on the other hand was pleased with his team’s performance.
“Whatever I told them (the players) they executed with full determination,” Jamil said.