Diego Forlan opened his account for Mumbai FC to beat NEUFC 1-0
NorthEast United FC were the team to beat in Hero Indian Super League season 3 as they have won both of their matches to sit at the top of the table. They were up for hat-trick wins, but they traveled to wrong place in search of victory. This season it’s not going to be easy to beat Mumbai City, as they have signed Uruguayan great Diego Forlan as their marquee player. And, Uruguyan is not going to disappoint Mumbai fans as he played the role in assisting in first game, and scored the only goal of the match in the 55th minute from a penalty in 2nd game against NEUFC in Mumbai Football Arena on Friday.
NorthEast United were playing their third match in six days, and Coach Nelo Vingada made some changes into the starting eleven to put fresh leg, and their marquee signing Didier Zokoro got the first start along with Seityasen Singh and Argentinean striker Nicolas Velez. Mumbai City coach Alexandre Guimaraes whose side was only playing their 2nd game kept the same squad, who wins the first match.
First 45 minutes were the same as Mumbai played in their first match, but NorthEast United do trouble them on some occasions. NorthEast midfielder Koffi N’Dri (Romaric) had the best shot in first-half, but his left-footed volley from just outside the box was well-judged by Mumbai goalkeeper Roberto Neto.
Neto was tested again by Romaric as he got plenty of space to execute another powerful shot which was saved. Mumbai defence looked falling apart, and the Mumbai goalkeeper wasn’t happy with his back-four. But, he got some relief when his side started creating problem for NEUFC in later half.
NorthEast marquee Zokoro were having battle with Mumbai’s marquee Forlan, and he made a brilliant tackle to deny Forlan from a dangerous position and Aibor Khongjee made goalkeeper Subrata Paul to dive to save his stunning long-ranger from going into the net.
First match hero for NEUFC, Katsumi Yusa had the best chance for NorthEast. Velez slipped the ball through for the Japanese, but Yusa wasn’t lucky this time shot above the bar from the close range, which should have been converted into goal.
In the second-half, Mumbai City were lucky to won a penalty after midfielder Pronay Halder was brought down by Regan Singh inside the danger zone and the referee pointed straight to the penalty spot. In presence of Forlan, he is the ultimate choice to take penalty and he stepped forward and the Mumbai marquee converted it in style to give his team the lead.
NorthEast United desperate to get an equalizer threw in everything at their rivals but they failed miserably to produce magical moment. It wasn’t NEUFC didn’t created chances, it wasn’t just their day, which helped Mumbai survived to register their second successive victory. Now, Mumbai City share the top spot with NorthEast United with having a match in hand as well.