Lallianzuala Chhangte was at his captivating best once again as a fluent Mumbai City FC dominated Hyderabad FC, winning 3-0 at the Gachibowli Stadium, in the Indian Super League. The Islanders, who are the holders of the ISL League Winners Shield, continue their unbeaten run, and moved five points clear of the second placed Mohun Bagan SG on the ISL Points Table.
It was Hyderabad FC who caught the visitors on the backfoot in the first couple of minutes, as they put together a couple quick moves down the right. However, soon enough Mumbai City FC got their act going. The Islanders dominated position and that paid off when Lallianzuala Chhangte put them in the lead, finishing of a sublime pass from Vikram Partap Singh with a crisp first-time shot with his left foot on the 17th minute.
Vikram and Jorge Pereyra Diaz scoffed their shots moments later as Mumbai City FC continued to pile on the pressure. By the half-hour mark, the likes of Jayesh Rane and new signing Jakub Vojtus were picking passes at will and Hyderabad FC were doing their best to hold out. Nonetheless, Mumbai City FC doubled their lead in the 32nd minute, when a corner came out to Thaer Krouma, who swung in a delicious ball into the danger area, where Mehtab Singh was waiting to head it home.
The Islanders continued to create plenty of chances with Chhangte, Rane, Vikram, Jakub and Diaz all combining quite well in the attacking third while goal-keeper Phurba Lachenpa was having one of his easier days at work at the other end of the ground. At the break, Mumbai City FC led 2-0.
After the breather, initially, the hosts threatened to claw their way back into the game, and didn’t allow the Islanders to get into a rhythm. Lachenpa had to make an important save just before the hour-mark, after which Mumbai City FC started to build again.
The visitors were looking to go through the gears and consolidate their position at the top of the points table, and on cue, around the 70th minute, substitute Bipin Singh had a chance to make it 3-0 but could not round off the move. The visitors continued to press forward with Chhangte leading the charge, and were asking quite a few questions of the Hyderabad defence.
Bipin and Alberto Noguera had chances to add to the goals tally just after the final ten minutes commenced. But it was Diaz who eventually made it 3-0 from the penalty spot, after Vikram was brought down in the area in the 89th minute. From then on in, the visitors kept things tight at the back and walked off with the three points.
The Islanders return to action at the Mumbai Football Arena after a week to take on Odisha FC on 8th April, Monday at 7:30 for their last home game in the league stage of the ISL this season.
