ISL 2017 Match 11: FC Pune City vs Mumbai City FC, 5 Talking Points

Balwant Singh was allowed too much space for his first goal (Image: ISL)

#2 Marcelinho lucky to stay on the field

Marcelinho (right) was guilty of a number of reckless tackles

When in rhythm and cutting open defences with his skill, Marcelinho is a treat to watch. When he gets petulant, he is anything but. Not once, but twice in the first half, the Brazilian lunged into a dangerous two-footed challenge, fully off the ground.

In fact, it's tough to call them challenges because he was never close to winning the ball on either occasion, the act born more out of frustration than an actual inkling to tackle. Both of them certainly looked malicious.

Shockingly though, no action was taken on the Brazilian both times. The first, taking a lenient view, was definitely worthy of a yellow card, even a red perhaps. The second was most definitely a sending off - it was that bad. The referee at the time decided to play advantage to Mumbai as they had the ball.

It looked like he was going to come back and book Marcelinho at the next stoppage, but there was no card forthcoming, not even a yellow. Even if by themselves not worthy of a red, they merited two yellows which would have seen Marcelinho receive his marching orders.

Marcelinho was a very lucky to stay on the pitch and even luckier to avoid any sort of punishment.

Edited by Shraishth Jain