I-League: 10-man Mumbai snatch draw at the death against Bengaluru FC

Mumbai FC’s Afghan internationals Ahmad Arash Hatifie (Jersey No 2) and Hashmatullah Mohamed Jan (Jersey No 10) celebrate their teams’ first goal against Bengaluru FC. On debut Hashmatullah netted in the 10th minute of play.

A ten-man Mumbai FC came back from a goal down twice to hold Bengaluru FC 2-2 in an I-League Round 8 encounter at the Balewadi Sports Complex, in Pune on Saturday.

The game was marred by few controversial decisions by Referee Pranjal Banerjee which included a sending off and a soft penalty decision which went against the hosts.

Bengaluru FC went up through striker Sean Rooney (8^th minute) before new-signing Hashmatullah Mohamed Jan (10^th) equalised for Mumbai FC.

The hosts were then reduced to ten men after medio Ashutosh Mehta was shown a straight red in the 36^th minute.

The visitors once again took the lead through striker Sunil Chhetri (58^th) off a penalty-kick before medio Climax Lawrence equalised for Mumbai FC right at the death.

With this draw, Mumbai FC ended their three game losing streak and move up to ninth in the table with seven points from eight games while the visitors move up to second (14 pts).

Coach Khalid Jamil made five changes to the team bringing in Nidhin Lal, Dane Periera and Subhas Chakraborty while handing debuts to new signings Afghan internationals Hashmatulla and Ahmad Arash Hatifie.

Mumbai FC went on the offensive from the word go. New-signing Hashmatullah went close in the opening minute on a counter, but saw his weak header being collected by the Bengaluru FC custodian.

A minute later, medio Climax Lawerence almost gave Mumbai FC the lead only for his freekick from 22-yards out to hit the woodwork. Hashmatullah once again went close with his header off Subhas Chakraborty’s cross in from the right going inches over.

However it was the visitors who took the lead against the run of play. Striker Rooney tapped in Beikhokhei Beingaichho’s low cross from the right leaving the hosts’ keeper Nidhil Lal helpless.

At the other end, Mumbai FC equalised almost instantly. Hashmatullah’s attempt from 25-yards out ended in the net after a wicked deflection from Bengaluru FC defender N.S. Manju two minutes later.

The hosts then dominated proceedings but finishing in the final third let them down.

Six minutes past the half hour mark, Ashutosh received his marching orders after a foul on Siam Hangal.

The harsh decision changed the script of the game as Bengaluru FC began to dominate. Couple minutes later, Rooney’s powerful freekick from the edge of the box was saved by Nidhin.

Both teams went into the break tied at 1-1.

Coach Jamil brought in attacker Jayesh Rane in place of the injured Subhas after the break. However, the hosts were forced to defend being a man down.

The visitors made their man advantage count as they took the lead in the 58^th minute. After an apparent handball by Jayesh inside the box, the referee awarded a soft penalty to Bengaluru FC. Chhetri stepped up to convert from the spot.

The hosts thereafter kept pushing for the equaliser which they finally got in the dying moments of the game. On a corner, medio Climax won the ball in a melee inside the eight-yard box and somehow beat the keeper to spark wild celebrations in the home crowd.

Man of the Match: John Menyongar (Bengaluru FC)