- Today Mumbai City FC would be keen to put it across defending champions Chennaiyin FC in their second leg clash at the Mumbai Football Arena. Mumbai City can make the semi-finals if they beat Chennaiyin, with whom they played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg. The hosts would be going into the clash with their confidence boosted significantly after the 5-0 demolition of Kerala Blasters in their previous game, riding on marquee player Diego Forlan’s magnificent hat-trick of goals.
Chennayin FC will be wary of what Mumbai did to Kerala Blasters in their previous match. Diego Forlan became the first marquee player to score a hat-trick in that match as Mumbai City FC thrashed Chennaiyin’s South Indian rivals 5-0. Chennaiyin didn’t have much luck when they forced into a 1-1 draw against Atletico de Kolkata after conceding a late goal at their own stomping ground.
Mumbai would conclude the league phase with their final game at home against Delhi Dynamos on December 3, but would be eager to seal their semifinal spot before that. The home team would expect another sizzler from their star striker and skipper Forlan who became the first marquee player to score a hat-trick in ISL and also continued with Mumbai’s record of having a hat-trick scorer in each of the edition.
“We will have to play better (against Chennaiyin FC) than the last game to try and win to be in a very good position. We saw the game Chennaiyin played against ATK and they are still on course. They are very tough. They are champions and champions always like to fight till the end,” said the Mumbai City coach.
In start of 10 min,Defederico came in form when he chips the ball forward over the Chennai backline and finds Chhetri in the box, and he calmly slots the ball home – after the referee had blown for offside.
A good save from chennai when, Mumbai take the corner short and Defederico takes a low shot towards goal. Chhetri produces an ingenious back heeled flick in the box to divert the shot towards goal, only for Karanjit to get down and make an instinctive save.
Mumbai City fc are knocking on the doors with Diego Forlan and Sunil Chettri getting shots in. The first shot was deflected by the keeper while the second went just wide. Chennaiyin FC aren’t able to get any meaningfull possession of the ball at the moment.
Defederico with a brilliant run from the left as he dribbled past two players to just touch it Chettri. Chettri did return but Defederico was stopped and couldn’t get to the ball. Mumbai have looked dangerous in attack so far.
GOAL: Mumbai City FC 1-0 Chennaiyin FC (Defederico 31′)
A goal entirely created by Sunil Chhetri, who plays a wall pass off Vadocz and bursts into the box, before intelligently cutting the ball back to Defederico in the box and the Argentine slots the ball into the top corner with Karanjit having no chance. Mumbai City 1-0 Chennaiyin FC. Goalkeeper was blind sighted and the Argentine scored the goal. That is the 100 goal in the ISL.
A good save from,Forlan strikes his free-kick supremely well, dipping the ball over the wall and watching it creep towards the bottom corner, only for Karanjit to get down and make a super save in 43 min.
HT: Mumbai City FC 1-0 Chennaiyin FC
It was a fitting goal to bring up ISL’s 100th this season. A superb team goal worthy of Barcelona’s best, with Sunil Chhetri at the heart of it. Matias Defederico applied a cultured left foot to end the move, but the build up to the goal will surely be replayed for years to come.
GOAL: Mumbai City FC 2-0 Chennaiyin FC (Krisztian Vadocz 59′)
Forlan collects the ball on the right edge of the box and produces a pin point cross to Vadocz on the edge of the box. He chests the ball down before producing a stunning volley into the top corner with Karanjit having no chance. Mumbai City 2-0 Chennaiyin FC.
A good shot from Jayesh Rane, when he chests a cross from the right wing down to Raphael Augusto and the Brazilian shoots way ovr the bar.
Superb save from chennai goalkeeper when Diego Forlan had jsut the goalkeeper to beat but he shows his selflessness by deciding to passing it to Cunha. But somehow the goalkeeper got there in time and stopped the shot. but Karanjit makes a stunning one-handed save to deny him.
Attack index:
Mumbai fc city (2-0) Chennaiyin fc
48% ball possession 52%
10 shots 7
9 fouls 13
4 corners 4
Referee blows the whistle and Mumbai City can spend the ten-day break that they have got after this match with relief as they are through to the semi finals. But their performance here has shown that they have the squad to actually go ahead and lay there eyes on the trophy itself. Mumbai fc are on top with 22 points (Q) whereas chennaiyin fc at 7 position with 14 points in the ISL table.
Hero of the match: Vadocoz
#FT: Mumbai City FC 2-0 Chennaiyin FC
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