ISL 2018-19: Sougou not offside; we deserve 3 points, says Jorge Costa after Mumbai City hold Bengaluru FC
Mumbai City FC coach Jorge Costa feels that the Islanders deserve three points from their 1-1 draw with Bengaluru FC in an Indian Super League (ISL) game played on Sunday at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.
Ten-man Mumbai City managed to hold the table-toppers at their own backyard. Udanta Singh's 23rd-minute opener was nullified by Modou Sougou eight minutes later.
BFC were unable to make anything of the second half as Mumbai City stuck to defending after Sehnaj Singh received the marching orders in the 51st minute for a second yellow card.
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Five minutes later, Sougou found the back of the net but he was adjudged offside a second before firing that shot past Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
Costa, like Sougou, believes that the goal should have counted.
"The second half, I told the players we should go back home with 3 points but unfortunately we played with 10.
With 10 men, it's different than 11 players. But even with 10 players, we tried to score," Costa said after the game.
"We had the opportunities. We scored a goal and it was not offside. We weren't given the 2-1 (goal). I was happy with the players and the work they put in.
"To be honest, it's an important point for us and good that we didn't lose against a team that is the top of the table.
"But we deserved more. For all the work we did, we scored one more goal than Bengaluru. We should be going back home with 3 points and not just one," Costa added.
Costa though says he's happy with the effort his players put in.
"We played well before the red card also. We were not good in the first 30 minutes. We didn't have the ball and couldn't retain possession. We played well after being down 0-1. We had 1-1 and then 2 more chances.
"We can't forget that this is our 3rd game in six days. And we're travelling continuously with the same team.
"We just changed Milan Singh from the first game for Raynier. The same first XI in this and the previous game (we have used). I think the players did a wonderful job."
On Mumbai City's unbeaten run after the 0-5 drubbing against FC Goa -
"We should not forget the game against FC Goa, which we lost. We must not do it again," Costa said. "But as you know, we started training late and it's a team with a new coach, new players and we needed time to adjust.
"For sure now, Mumbai is better than the beginning of the season. We are doing well. Sometimes we don't play as well but we fight.
"Players are doing an amazing job, helping each other on the field. That's it. We must keep working everyday and then try to win the game."
On Subhasish Bose as a centre-back
"At the beginning of the season, he was my first option for the left-back position. He played one or two games as the central defender for us because of injuries to others," Costa said.
"But normally, he will be my first option for the left-back position. In the national team, if he plays another position, I don't know about that. I think it's much better if he's a left-back."
On who Mumbai will bring in for Kerala Blasters game for the suspended Sehnaj Singh
"We'll see who to replace him with. It's a real change for sure. We have many options. I can tell you one thing - we'll play with 11 players (laughs)," Costa said.