Mumbai City FC were held to a 0-0 draw by Hyderabad FC in a hard-fought encounter at the G.M.C. Balayogi Athletic Stadium, Hyderabad. The visitors came close on numerous occasions, registering 15 attempts and having the dominant share of the possession. However, they eventually had to settle to share a point with Hyderabad FC.
Mumbai City FC had the first opportunity of the game in the 9th minute, as Jon Toral combined with Brandon Fernandes in midfield, before playing in Lallianzuala Chhangte, who hit the side netting from inside the box.
The visitors continued to be on the front foot and came close to taking the lead after Mehtab Singh struck the crossbar off a header by a cross from Jorge Ortiz in the 16th minute.
The Islanders were relentless in their pursuit of the opening goal, coming close again in the 23rd minute. After a seamless transition from front to back, Lallianzuala Chhangte was denied from the six-yard box as the Hyderabad FC goalkeeper cleared it off the line.
Jorge Ortiz had a go from 35 yards to try his luck as Mumbai City FC kept their foot on the pedal. In the 26th minute, Jon Toral had the ball in the back of the net for the visitors, but it was ruled out instantly for an offside.
After a quiet period for most of the first half, Phurba Lachenpa was called into action in the 35th minute as he kept out a free kick from Devendra Murgaokar. Lallianzuala Chhangte registered another shot on target in the 40th minute as his side continued to try and break the deadlock.
Mumbai City FC continued to pile on the pressure as Jon Toral registered his first attempt on target with a sharp low strike from outside the box. However, Arshdeep Singh stood tall in the Hyderabad FC goal. Vikram Partap Singh was played in behind by Yoell van Nieff in the closing stages of the first half before the former blazed his effort over the bar to close out a goalless first half.
At the start of the second half, the Islanders picked up from where they left off in the first half. A delightful backheel from the captain allowed Jon Toral to unleash a strike from distance. The Spanish midfielder had another attempt soon after in the 52nd minute, as Mumbai City FC continued to knock on the door.
Against the run of play, Hyderabad FC nearly opened the scoring from a corner. After a mix-up inside the penalty area, Mehtab Singh managed to clear his lines to ensure his side stayed on level terms.
Hyderabad FC started growing into the game as they started creating a few opportunities of their own. Phurba Lachenpa responded when called upon on a couple of occasions around the 65th-minute mark. Mumbai City FC responded immediately as Jorge Ortiz registered a shot on goal, only to be denied by the Hyderabad FC keeper once again.
Looking for a breakthrough in the contest, Petr Kratky made his first substitution, bringing on Bipin Singh for Brandon Fernandes in the 69th minute. New signing Jorge Ortiz nearly gave his side the lead after he got the better of the opposition goalkeeper in the 79th minute, before the Hyderabad FC defenders managed to clear the attempt off the line.
In search of the winner, Petr Kratky made another change, replacing Vikram Partap Singh with Gyamar Nikum. Soon after, a sublime through ball from Jon Toral allowed the Mumbai City FC captain to run in behind the Hyderabad FC defense, but Lallianzuala Chhangte couldn’t convert on that occasion either.
As the last roll of the dice, the visitors brought on Nathan Rodrigues and Ayush Chhikara for Sahil Panwar and Jorge Ortiz, in the 86th minute.
The Islanders kept on pushing for the win even in the dying embers, coming close on a couple more occasions. However, both teams had to settle for a point each in this goalless encounter.
Mumbai City FC will be back in action at the Mumbai Football Arena on 1st March, taking on the Mohun Bagan Super Giant.
