Mumbai FC came back from the behind to beat Churchill Brothers SC, 2-1 in Sunday’s exciting I-League match-up. Brandon Fernandes’ gave the home side the lead with his inch-perfect free kick.
But Victorino’s equaliser and Karan Sawhney’s injury time effort ensured Mumbai left Goa with 3 crucial points.
#1 Brandon Fernandes scores a gorgeous free kick
If David Beckham was in the stands, he would have definitely been proud. The home side were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous area inside the opening five minutes. Captain Keenan Almeida released Clifford with a defence-splitting through ball, who was fouled cynically by Pratik Chowdhary just outside the box.
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Up stepped 22-year-old Brandon Fernandes – a two-step run-up and he wonderfully nestled the ball into the top right corner, much to the delight of the sparse home crowd. Brandon made the free-kick look easy but in reality, he had a task at hand.
Getting the ball over and above the wall from close range is never an easy task. The midfielder displayed great technique to side-foot his shot past keeper, Kattimani who had no chance.
#2 Santosh Kashyap backs up his words with action
Ever since the league’s opening day, Mumbai FC coach, Santosh Kashyap has made his intentions clear: “I believe in attacking football and we’ll continue to play my way.” The Mumbai FC manager wants his side to play a brand of football that their fans can be proud of. Kashyap believes teams are meant to be attacked and this game was no different.
Despite conceding early in the match, Mumbai never lost their zeal and endeavour which made for a refreshing and open game. The away side committed numbers in attack every single time. When Churchill attempted to build their attack from the back, Mumbai deployed seven men in the opposition half, testament to the side’s agenda.
Full-backs Reagan Singh and Shallum Pires marauded forward to provide an extra outlet in attack. Kashyap continues to be a man of his words this I-League season.
#3 Rowilson and Priyant miscommunication gifts Mumbai an equaliser
There was something very off-putting about Churchill Brothers’ first half performance. After taking a lead in the fourth minute, for some reason, they completely lost their attacking potency.
The home side sat back and let Mumbai dictate proceedings and eventually paid the price for it. An aimless aerial ball headed towards Rowilson. The centre-back had his back towards the ball and couldn’t make up his mind in time.
As a result, his weak header fell onto Victorino’s path and he pounced upon the loose ball to place it into an open net. The keeper was in no man’s land, the lack of clarity between the centre back and keeper, Priyant, gifted Mumbai an equaliser that seemed inevitable sooner or later.
You would have to wonder why Churchill took the foot off the pedal despite no hairpin turn in sight.
#4 Mumbai FC on point but lack penetration
As the hour mark approached, Mumbai coach, Santosh Kashyap look concerned on the sidelines. There’s no doubt his side played some slick football, but they lacked the penetration required – a quality that separates the good sides from the great.
Mumbai were expansive and put on a show with their inch-perfect passes. Their off the ball movement was impressive, and it helped them move forward with ease. But they faltered where it mattered the most. Every time the men in yellow and blue entered the final third of the pitch, they failed to truly test the Churchill defence; similar to their performance in the opening game against DSK.
While they created numerous chances, they weren’t ruthless enough inside the box. In the end, a sublime long-range effort from Thoi Singh proved to be the difference. Kashyap will no doubt be concerned with his side’s inability to finish off their good looking attacking moves.
#5 Karan Sawhney’s crazy ten minutes proved to be the difference
Goa believed justice was about to prevail. Adil Khan’s push on Hitesh inside the box coerced the referee to point to the spot, with just ten minutes remaining. Up until then, Churchill looked the better side by far in the second half. Understandably so, Adil was livid with the referee’s decision.
Having returned to the I-League after a gap of two years, he didn’t want to be the culprit in a game in which his side held their own against a determined Mumbai side. Substitute, Karan Sawhney stepped up to take the spot-kick.
But his weak effort felt right into the keeper’s hands, who readily accepted the gift. Just when it looked all done and dusted, Sawhney returned from the dead to slot home from close range in injury time. Thoi Singh whipped in a pacey cross from the right wing to find Sawhney. The striker’s well-directed effort rolled past the keeper, who couldn’t get his hands on the ball.
