In a gritty fixture at the Kalinga Stadium, Mumbai City FC shared points with Odisha FC, following a 0-0 encounter.
Despite creating numerous opportunities, including key efforts from Jayesh Rane, Nikolaos Karelis, and Lallianzuala Chhangte, the Islanders were unable to break the deadlock, and the match ended 0-0. Following the game, Mumbai City FC now sit with 14 points from 10 games as they look ahead to their next challenge.
The Islanders began on a positive note, creating their first chance of the night as early as the second minute. Jayesh Rane, who delivered an exceptional performance throughout the game, intercepted the ball inside the opposition's box and fired a shot on goal, but his effort went wide.
At the 13th minute, Nikolaos Karelis positioned himself just outside the box and unleashed a powerful left-footed strike that seemed destined for the net. However, Odisha FC's keeper, Amrinder Singh, reacted swiftly, diving to push the ball wide and concede a corner.
In the 19th minute, Manzorro broke wide and delivered a precise cross toward Vikram Partap Singh. Vikram's header aimed to set up Karelis for the finish, but Amrinder read the play and intervened.
Karelis tried his luck again in the 27th minute. Despite doing well to create space and take a shot, his effort went narrowly wide.
The second half saw the Islanders intensify their attack, creating a flurry of opportunities. In the 47th minute, Karelis' shot was blocked by Odisha FC’s defence, but Manzorro followed up with a thunderous strike on the rebound. Unfortunately, the scoreline remained unchanged.
Six minutes later, Manzorro threaded an incisive through ball to Jayesh Rane. Rane guided his shot gently, but Odisha's keeper once again stood firm.
Karelis continued to push for the breakthrough, taking two more shots in quick succession, but the elusive goal remained out of reach for the Greek forward.
Yoëll van Nieff had his first attempt of the night in the 64th minute, but the long-range effort drifted wide.
In the final quarter, Lallianzuala Chhangte lit up the right flank, persistently testing the Odisha keeper.
At the 74th minute, Chhangte weaved inside from the right and unleashed a shot from the edge of the box, only to see it sail over the goal.
Substitute Noufal PN came on in the 81st minute for Vikram and injected fresh energy into the Islanders' attack. Making an immediate impact, Noufal outfoxed two defenders and found Manzorro, whose shot was agonizingly close but off target.
As regulation time neared its end, Chhangte took a venomous strike at goal in the 86th minute, only to be denied by the crossbar. In stoppage time, Noufal found Chhangte again, but the Islanders’ skipper was once more thwarted by the crossbar, sealing a frustrating 0-0 draw.
Mumbai City FC will feature in another away fixture on 15th December when they take on Mohammedan SC.
