ISL 2018-19, Mumbai City 1-0 Bengaluru FC: Hits and Flops from the game

A 29th minute strike from Paulo Machado seemed to be enough for Mumbai City FC to inflict a maiden ISL 2018-19 defeat on Bengaluru FC and go top of the table. It was a display of sheer concentration, focus and discipline from Mumbai, who held on to pip fellow title challengers.

The hosts got us underway in the first half and from the first five minutes or so, it certainly looked like a game between the top two sides, as the match was being played at a frenetic pace, with massive intensity. However, the first major chance of the outing fell to BFC.

Full-back Rahul Bheke, who often loves to overload the left flank with his presence, played in Xisco Fernandez, who couldn't time his strike but asked questions of Amrinder Singh. A couple of minutes later, Bheke himself had an acrobatic effort on goal after he was picked out beautifully by Udanta Singh, but the shot went over the bar.

It took 29 minutes to break the deadlock. After a rather positive start, Mumbai lost their way to some extent as Bengaluru pressed for the opener, creating chance after chance. But it was the home team opening the scoring in front of their fans, against the run of play.

Jorge Costa's tactics worked to great effect because his side focused on assembling themselves and knew exactly when to sting Bengaluru on the break. With just three passes, Paulo Machado capped off a deadly counter-attack.

BFC held more of the ball and tried to carve open a formidable Mumbai defence, but they were probably missing the presence of a focal point in Miku.

The second half started on a bright note as well, with both sides having a shy on goal. While Moudou Sougou's tame effort tested Gurpreet, Sunil Chhetri struck a soft volley to Amrinder. 15 minutes into the second period; there was a lot to talk about, but neither side was able to take the game by the scruff of its neck.

Mumbai's spearhead then finally found himself on side, but Gurpreet was equal to his fine-tuned effort. A few chances went here and there, but Jorge Costa's side held their nerves and kept their shape to claim all three points.

On that note, let's take a look at 5 players who experienced contrasting fortunes at the Mumbai Football Arena.

#5 Hit: Rahul Bheke

As usual and as always, Bengaluru's Rahul Bheke was at it. Despite having a long winter break, the full back showed no signs of anything less than 100%.

He was at the end of most of the chances his side created. The versatile defender exploited the left wing time and time again, overlapped the wingers and sprayed a host of crosses into the box. He was always at it, be it at attack or defence.

The 28-year-old occupied the right positions and was also rather safe at the back. He disallowed crosses to come in and portrayed solidity by ensuring there were more side passes than fierce deliveries into the box. Despite manning advanced positions, he tracked back extremely well.

#4 Flop: Modou Sougou

Sougou can't always get away with playing right on the shoulder of the opposition back line

Modou Sougou was synonymous to the work offside today. He played on the shoulder and made darting runs down the channel, but his timing and presence of mind were way below par.

He was caught offside around 8-9 times. Yes, he did the right job in dropping his shoulder and surging ahead of the BFC back line, but while a couple of decisions unfortunately didn't go his way, the rest were just careless.

When he did get his chances, the Senegalese, who is on currently on a serious purple patch, was way too soft with his shots. Also to add, there was an occasion or two when he could have lifted his head up and picked a pass as well.

The forward's style of play hampered Mumbai's creativity and erased a passing option that would help them keep the ball a little longer.

#3 Hit: Paulo Machado

Football is a lot about captains, they say. In this famous victory where we knew Mumbai would have to play out of their skins in order to mold a shut-out, it was also important to take their chances.

The hosts stuck to their game plan and with all credit to the midfielder, they drew first blood and eventually, held on to win the game. To have the presence of mind to turn around and keep on running, first of all, was absolutely magnificent.

That was just job half done. Machado kept running, received the ball, injected pace into his run and looked across to see Sougou. But, he took it upon himself and beat the usually unbreakable frame of Gurpreet Singh.

More over, the skipper infused a lot of energy and worked his socks off. He was very safe with his passing and intelligent with the way he chose his occasion to shift from midfield to attack. Defensively as well, the Portuguese was astute.

#2 Flop: Xisco Hernandez

Xisco Hernandez couldn't tie the strings together in midfield

This is exactly where Bengaluru lacked precision and pace. Xisco Hernandez had an outing to forget, as his all-round game was decoded and made use of brilliantly by the Mumbai defence.

Speaking of his finishing to start things off; the Spaniard was abysmal whenever he got at the end of the scheme of things. His finishing was substandard, and so was his work from the dead ball.

Neither did he feed passes to Chhetri, nor did he build attacks around him. Due to the lack of service from his side, pressure piled up on the wider players. Defensively as well, he lost out on the 50-50s and couldn't offer much.

Hernandez will have to sharpen his vision if BFC have to extend their lead at the top of the table when they host NorthEast United on Wednesday, 30th January.

#1 Hit: Rafael Bastos

And, the best player of the match was... Rafael Bastos! Boy, he ran the extra yard and offered so much on both sides for his side. Until his substitution, it didn't look like Bastos had run out of steam even by a narrow margin.

First of all, the Brazilian showed why he's so effective for a team that emphasizes on the defensive phase more often than not, as he was always there, always there to foil his full back. Almost every time the visitors recycled possession, the veteran was seen tracking back.

Offensively, there were two instances when he sprinted forward to ask for a long ball and initiate counter-attacks. Speaking of the same word, it was he who fed Machado for the goal as well. That pretty much tells the story.

He ran forward, picked up the ball, kept hold of it with some strength, turned away from one player, carried the ball forward and launched a pin-point pass to his captain to lay the rest on a platter. What more can one ask for?

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Edited by Sudeshna Banerjee