Margao, Feb 6: Mumbai City FC left it late to beat Chennaiyin FC at the Fatorda Stadium in the Indian Super League (ISL) on Sunday as they ended their winless run and reignite their semi-final hopes.
A late goal by Vikram Singh (85’) sealed a deserved victory for the Islanders who dominated the match from start to finish.
The match started off in fiery fashion. Igor Angulo had an opportunity to score the first goal of the game but underhit his shot and it was easily saved by Debjit Majumder.
Mumbai continued to create chances to score, but failed to convert any of them. Lallianzuala Chhangte showed some great trickery with his feet to beat his marker and he took the shot but it was saved by Majumder.
Majumder then brilliantly punched away a free-kick by Chhangte as he defied the Islanders again.
The second half began just like the first, with Mumbai creating most of the chances but, just like the first half, they failed to convert them.
Chhangte created another great chance for Angulo to score but he failed to connect cleanly with the ball and the chance went begging.
Bipin Singh found himself in space inside the Chennaiyin box from a good pass by Angulo, and his shot just went wide of the post.
After 80 minutes, the Islanders had been unable to finish any of their shots in the game. But, Vikram found himself at the end of a cross by Bradden Inman and slotted the ball past Majumder to put Mumbai in the lead five minutes from time.
Chennaiyin had a great chance to equalise late on as a free-kick in stoppage time was saved by Mohamad Nawaz but it was not cleared. The ball bundled around in the box and fell to Lukasz Gikiewicz who took the shot but failed to hit the target.
This was Mumbai’s first victory in 53 days.
This result took Mumbai up the ISL table to fifth and Chennaiyin remained in seventh position, three points outside the top four. (ISL)
