ISL: Mumbai City FC and FC Goa play out an engaging 0-0 draw

Former Arsenal teammates Robert Pires (left) and Nicolas Anelka could not inspire their teams to much-needed win

For the third consecutive game, Mumbai City FC failed to score and so did their opponents as the Hero Indian Super League witnessed another 0-0 draw. Playing in front of their home fans at the D.Y. Patil Stadium, Mumbai couldn’t quite get the breakthrough despite having some good chances as they picked up a point once more after another deadlocked game.

Andre Moritz returned from injury for Mumbai to give them some impetus in midfield as coach Peter Reid didn’t change the line-up otherwise. FC Goa coach Zico proved that he wasn’t pulling a fast one as he reinforced his talk of playing to win before the game by starting with Gabriel Fernandes along with Tolgay Ozbey up front in a 4-4-2 formation.

Mumbai started the game well

The home side began well and had the better of the opening exchanges before Goa found their feet. An early mistake from Gregory Arnolin almost proved costly for Goa as it allowed Nicolas Anelka to get in a shot on goal, but his effort was over the bar.

Moritz, playing well on his return, was proving to be a bright spark in Mumbai’s midfield and he played Subhash Singh through with a lovely ball on 20 minutes. Subhash though mistimed his strike and the ball went wide of the right post.

Goa were relying on the pace of Ozbey and Fernandes along with runs from Robert Pires and Andre Santos to catch Mumbai on the break and it was Fernandes who tested Subrata Paul first with a strike from outside the box that the Mumbai keeper tipped wide.

Youness Bengelloun, who scored a brace in the last game against Delhi Dynamos, had a chance to give the visitors the lead in the 39th minute as he tried to get on the end of Santos’ free-kick. His low header looped over the bar though. A minute later Ozbey had another attempt on goal, the ball this time fizzing wide of the post.

Didika had a good effort saved by Jan Seda in the Goa goal

The best chance of the first half fell to the hosts on 41 minutes when Moritz, after showing spectacular skill to turn his defender, played a superb through ball to winger Lalrindika Ralte who was making a cutting run. Didika got to it and unleashed a shot on goal, but Jan Seda was off his line early and managed to smother it.

Goa finished the game on the offensive

Goa started better in the second period and on 50 minutes they looked like they were going to score, but Peter Costa made an excellent last ditch tackle before Ozbey could pull the trigger with only the keeper to beat.

Mumbai captain Manuel Friedrich had his attempt on goal at the hour mark, but his looping header from Moritz’s cross was just over. Santos at the other end was having a go from distance on quite a few occasions, but his efforts were either wide or easy to save for Paul.

A moment of controversy cropped up in the 66th minute as Moritz was mauled from behind by substitute Amiri inside the penalty box as he was waiting to bring down an aerial ball. The referee did not award a penalty presumably because the defender had his eye on the ball. Moritz was furious and cut a frustrated figure the rest of the game.

Just like in the first half, Goa finished the second half strongly too after soaking up a lot of pressure. Romeo Fernandes, on for Gregory Fernandes, was causing Mumbai trouble down the right. Gregory had a header on goal in the 81st minute from a Santos corner which was cleared by Costa.

The best chances for either side were yet to come though as in the space of two minutes both sides went so close to scoring only to be denied by the woodwork. First up it was Moritz for Mumbai, whose strong left-footed shot thundered off the crossbar with the keeper beaten. He might have actually had a second bite at it had he not walked away with his hands on his head.

Ozbey then after a speedy run at the Mumbai defence managed to get central just outside the box and saw his left-footed attempt beat Paul, but cannoned off the left post and away from goal.

Goa had two more chances with Romeo getting behind the Mumbai defence on a speedy break and rounding his defender to get in a shot at goal, but Paul was alert to the danger and made the save on his near post.

And in the third minute of added time, Santos whipped in a dangerous ball into the box which just eluded the head of Ranti Martins. It was powerful enough and heading towards goal though and Paul was called into action once again to make the save.

The game was quite engaging and end-to-end at times especially during the closing minutes of both periods. Mumbai made the early running in both halves, but Goa finished strongly and would be disappointed to not have scored as they had a staggering 19 shots on goal. Moritz though, was the standout player of the game, and for his effort was named the Man of the Match.