I-League 2015/16 – Mumbai stun Bengaluru to maintain their undefeated run

Amlan Majumdar

ByAmlan Majumdar, SportsCafe Editor

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Very few would have predicted a 2-0 win for Mumbai FC at the Cooperage Ground, against the Fed Cup winners Bengaluru FC, but even fewer could have predicted how comfortably the home side got this result. Khalid Jamil's men are slowly establishing themselves as the dark horse in the title race this season.

Mumbai FC XI: Clyde, Matsugane (c), Brown, Son, Pawan (gk), Pratik, Ashutosh, Jayesh, Arata, Sushil, Kozawa

Bengaluru FC XI: Alwyn, Kim, Sampingiraj, Anto, Ralte (gk), Johnson, Lyngdoh, Osano, Lalchuanmawia, Vineeth, Chhetri (c)

Mumbai fielded an unchanged lineup in this game, while Bengaluru FC manager Ashley Westwood made just one change to the team which defeated Shillong Lajong 3-0 at home in their first game. Malswamzuala was replaced by Shankar Sampingiraj in the midfield.

The home team were quick off the block and took the lead in the fifth minute. Ashutosh's cross from the right wing caused chaos in the Bengaluru box, and after the defenders blocked two consecutive shots, from Sushil Singh and Eric Brown respectively, Arata Izumi was at hand to find the back of the net at the far post.

Even before Bengaluru could recover from the shock of conceding that early goal, Mumbai doubled their lead just six minutes later. Sunil Chhetri received the ball on the left wing, and tried to play a one-two with Seong-Yong Kim. The North Korean's return pass was, however, intercepted by Min-Chol Son. Stunningly, though, as the midfielder slid in to block the pass, he ended up connecting with the ball perfectly, and a couple of seconds later, the ball was in the back of the Bengaluru goal.

Son's tackle inadvertently turned into a thunderous shot, and the comical error from Lalthuammawia Ralte in the Bengaluru goal, who failed to keep the ball out despite getting both his hands on it, made the scoreline 2-0.

Bengaluru were stunned, rattled, and a shadow of the side which so convincingly defeated Shillong in their last game. Mumbai were taking the game to their opponents, and looked well on course to get their first win against the Fed Cup champions. The discipline that Khalid Jamil has drilled into his side, came to the fore. They pressed Bengaluru all over the pitch whenever Bengaluru had possession, and looked for a quick transition to attack, when they won it back.

Bengaluru's first real chance came from a long shot, after Curits Osano wriggled through three Mumbai players at the edge of the box. Pawan Kumar though, looked very solid in the Mumbai goal, and it seemed like he was intent to prove a point against his former team.

Most of the action on the pitch was taking place on Mumbai's right wing. Both the teams preferred that side for the pitch while building up an attack, and that ensured an intriguing battle between Ashutosh/ Rane and Lalchuanmawia/ Sunil Chhetri – and the Mumbai pair were winning it.

Bengaluru created another opportunity in the 28th minute, and it arrived from a fine delivery by Eugeneson Lyngdoh, from a free kick on the right wing, with Chhetri's header going just wide of the near post.

Sushil Kumar and Ryuki Kozawa also tried their luck at the other end of the pitch, but failed to extend Mumbai's lead before the end of the first half.

Westwood brought on Udanta Singh and Thoi Singh in the second half, to provide Bengaluru with more control in the midfield, which was being dominated by the likes of Brown and Taisuke Matsugane. But the spark they were looking for did not arrive till Malswamzuala was brought onto the pitch.

The highly-rated youngster, along with Udanta Singh, caused the Mumbai defence a lot of problems in the last 20 minutes of the second half, but their eye-catching buildup play was let down by poor finishing in the final third.

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