Mumbai City FC were in fine form in their final home game of the ISL League Stage, as they defeated a gritty Odisha FC by 2-1. For the Islanders, it was Jorge Pereyra Diaz and Lallianzuala Chhangte who found the back of the net on an entertaining evening at the Mumbai Football Arena. This also extends the unbeaten streak to 9 games.
Mumbai City FC looked dominant in the early stages, and were pressing the opposition high up, with Chhangte getting two shots away from the right. The hosts’ domination on the ball pushed the visitors back in their half, and the pressure was starting to tell. Odisha FC were also putting together some good moves of their own. Jorge Pereyra Diaz and Vikram Pratap Singh were combining well and asking a few questions as well, but the visitors held on.
The Islanders opened their account with a brilliant long ball from Mehtab Singh to Chhangte, who effortlessly dribbled past the Odisha defence before giving in a perfectly weighted cutback to his team-mate Jorge Pereyra Diaz, who slotted it home with ease. The visitors responded soon when the Islanders’ keeper’s pass fell to Diego Maurício, who passed it into the net to bring things back to level pegging.
Around 40th minute mark, Mumbai City FC had a brilliant opportunity from the right with Apuia giving a brilliant cutback to Chhangte in the middle but the shot was too high. The Islanders continued to attack the opposition, who weren’t backing down either. In the final moments of the first half, Chhangte put it on a platter for Diaz, who though could not get the finish in. At the break, both teams were 1-1.
After a high-octane first half, both sides started off with caution, but yet again it was Chhangte, who was continuously causing problems for Odisha. Unable to make any inroads, Odisha were taking a battering, and just after the hour mark, Chhangte had the easiest finish ever. A through ball to Diaz was stopped by Amrinder, but it popped up for Chhangte who was staring at an open goal, and didn’t need a second invitation to take his chance. Mumbai City FC were leading 2-1 and the Arena was bouncing.
After that, a few lusty challenges ensured that the tempers were flying. All the while though Mumbai City FC were in control of the contest, with Odisha finding it hard to get through the gears. The last phase of the game was particularly fiery, with both sides throwing the kitchen sink at each other, and Mumbai doing well to absorb the pressure.
Eventually, the hosts did well to hang on and collect three points in their final home game of the league stage.
