Sunil Chhetri's brace helps Mumbai City FC secure their first win of the season
Mumbai City FC registered their first win of the season after a Sunil Chhetri brace helped them to a fairly comfortable 2-0 win against a high-flying Delhi Dynamos in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) game held at Mumbai’s Dr. D.Y. Patil Stadium on Wednesday, October 21, 2015.
Nicolas Anelka once again made a host of changes from the side which lost 2-0 to Chennaiyin FC at home, as Subhash Singh, Gabriel Fernandes and John Aguilera came into the line-up in place of Frederic Piquionne, Selim Benachour and Pratesh Shirodkar to form a more fluid front four for the hosts. In defence, Darren O’Dea replaced Frantz Bertin while Aitor came in for Ashutosh Mehta.
Roberto Carlos though didn’t make too many changes to the side which bagged all three points in Kochi, with Sehnaj Singh coming in for Adlinga, allowing Chicao to drop back into the defence as Riise shifted to his favorite left back role.
First Half
The game endured a slow start as both teams took a while to find their feet, but it was the visitors who looked the more assured on the ball. The game though burst into life after the tenth-minute mark, when Mumbai City FC took the lead in the 13th minute, slightly against the run of play as Hans Mulder was robbed off the ball in midfield allowing Sunil Chhetri to release Sony Norde into space.
The Haitian’s shot ricocheted off a defender to fall in the path of Chhetri who had continued his run as India’s all-time top scorer made no mistake in slotting his shot into the bottom corner.
The Delhi Dynamos produced an almost perfect response to falling behind as a brilliant piece of intricate play on the left side saw the ball reach Robin Singh at the edge of the box, but the striker could only find the side netting.
Couple of minutes later it was Sony Norde’s turn to sizzle as he once again weaved his magic down Delhi’s right-hand side, to leave Souvik Chakrabarty reeling, but his final pass just evaded Subhash Singh.
The Haiti International was at the thick of things once again in the 20th minute when he almost sneaked in a free kick on the left flank in at the far post but for a scrambling Doblas who kept his effort out at full stretch. Delhi Dynamos failed to clear the resulting corner and invited all sorts of pressure on themselves leading to two more corners in the next two minutes, but the visitors somehow escaped unhurt.
Sony Norde was once again the pick of the Mumbai City FC players when he was sent through on goal after some neat work by Gabriel Fernandes in the 27th minute. Norde’s cross at the far post was met by Subhash Singh whose fierce volley went inches wide of the target.
Three minutes later, Delhi Dynamos had a great chance to equalize post a spell of Mumbai City dominance when Florent Malouda snatched the ball under the nose of Pavel Cmovs and ran towards the goal, but the former Chelsea midfielder could only fire his shot straight at Subrata Pal.
Delhi Dynamos slowly recovered as the first half drew to a close, but Mumbai City FC were by far the better team going into the break with a slender lead over their rivals
Second Half
Roberto Carlos made a change at half-time as he replaced Sehnaj Singh with Anwar Ali. The second half had a stop-start beginning to it as referee flashed his yellow card at every opportunity, booking Chicao, Pavel Cmovs, Souvik Chakrabarty and Darren O’Dea in the first fifteen minutes from the restart.
Roberto Carlos was forced into a change in the 59th minute as Dos Santos had to be replaced by Richard Gadze following the Brazilian’s injury. The constant stoppages affected the game’s tempo and both teams scrapped for their best form until Subhash Singh almost lit the place up with a thunderbolt of an effort from 40 yards which unfortunately for Mumbai City FC came off the crossbar in the 65th minute.
Nicolas Anelka brought on Pratesh Shirodkar in place of Gabriel Fernandes to give more protection to his backline, but it didn’t have any effect on Mumbai City FC’s attacking threat as they almost doubled the lead in the 70th minute when a Chhetri picked out Sony Norde with a beautiful lofted pass, but the Haitian who managed to remain onside saw his effort saved by an outstretched leg of Doblas who kept his team in the game.
But Doblas couldn’t do anything about Sunil Chhetri’s effort five minutes later as Mumbai City FC’s No.11 doubled his team’s lead after being served with a tap in from six yards out thanks to Sony Norde’s brilliance on the left, having got on the end of a deep cross from the right flank.
Mumbai City FC’s star of the show, Sony Norde made way for Frederic Piquionne as the Haitian earned some much-deserved rest. The second goal seemed to have knocked the stuffing out of the Delhi Dynamos as they showed little signs of a comeback as Mumbai City FC almost scored a third when Frederic Piquionne’s header from a Pratesh Shirodkar cross was kept out by Doblas at full stretch.
Mumbai City FC kept their clean sheet as they recorded their first win of the season.
Mumbai City FC now entertain FC Goa at home on Sunday, while Delhi Dynamos travel to Kolkata to take on the champions Atletico de Kolkata