Mumbai City FC 1-0 SC East Bengal: Player Ratings as Islanders keep slender top-four hopes alive

Mumbai City FC edged SC East Bengal 1-0 in the ISL earlier tonight (February 22). Bipin Singh scored the only goal of the match six minutes after half-time to take the Islanders back into the top four.

The Red and Gold Brigade were the better ISL team in the first half but didn't take their chances and were made to suffer for it. They remain bottom of the standings with nothing left to play for except pride.

Here are the player ratings from the match:

Mumbai City FC

Mohammad Nawaz - 6/10

Nawaz had a couple of nervy moments as he gave the ball away and botched a couple of clearances. However, he commanded the Mumbai City FC box fairly well and made five saves, with his effort to keep out Raju Gaikwad's bicycle kick standing out.

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Vignesh Dakshinamurthy - 6/10

Dakshinamurthy was much better going forward against SC East Bengal than he has been this season and lacked just the final pass. He was troubled by Mahesh Singh initially in defense but recovered well once the winger was taken off.

Mehtab Singh - 6.5/10

Mehtab Singh put in a decent shift to help Mumbai City FC keep a clean sheet. He won five of his eight duels, made two clearances and a tackle to thwart the Red and Gold Brigade.

Mourtada Fall - 7/10

Fall recovered from a slightly off-the-pace start to put in an excellent performance at the heart of defense. He made five clearances and won nine aerial duels (both team-high figures) to help his side keep a clean sheet.

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Rahul Bheke - 6/10

Bheke didn't pose too many questions going forward but was solid at the back.

Brad Inman - 6.5/10

Inman struggled to consistently break the SC East Bengal midfield line but eventually got the assist for his side's goal with a neat pass. He didn't do too much otherwise, but managed to complete 93% of his attempted passes.

Lalengmawia Ralte - 7/10

Ralte, as always, did the dirty work in defensive midfield to allow his team to flourish. He completed 87% of his passes, won six duels and also made two tackles and clearances apiece to lock Mumbai City FC's midfield in the second half.

Bipin Singh - 7.5/10

Bipin Singh took his goal extremely well, firing in a venomous left-footed finish from outside the box. The goal seemed to give him confidence as he drove at the SC East Bengal defense, laying out a key pass and creating one big chance.

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Cassio Gabriel - 5.5/10

Gabriel often looked bereft of creativity, though he did display some fancy footwork on the ball. He did manage two key passes but lost the ball 19 times and recorded no shots on target for Mumbai City FC.

His miss late on when he ballooned a one-on-one chance over the bar after being put through by a mistake from Franjo Prce basically summed up his night.

Lallianzuala Chhangte - 6/10

Chhangte did do some damage down his flank at times, but as has often been the case, those were momentary and inconsistent. He managed three key passes and won a couple of fouls against SC East Bengal.

Igor Angulo - 5/10

Angulo struggled upfront and never really looked at the top of his game against SC East Bengal. He had no shots on target, managed just 13 touches and completed only two of his five passes.

Catch the next match on the ISL fixtures here.

Substitutes

Diego Mauricio - 6/10

Mauricio came on for Angulo in the 65th minute. He offered more of a physical presence upfront for Mumbai City FC but didn't really have many chances to score.

Vinit Rai - 6/10

Rai replaced Inman in the 74th minute. He helped the Islanders keep the ball late on as they held on for a nervy victory.

Vikram Pratap Singh - N/A

Pratap Singh came on for Chhangte in the 90th minute. He did get a few touches but didn't have enough time to impact the game.

Raynier Fernandes - N/A

Fernandes replaced Gabriel in the 90th minute. He too didn't have enough touches on the pitch to impact the game.

SC East Bengal

Sankar Roy - 6/10

Roy could've done better with the Islanders' goal as he was beaten at his near post. His distribution also wasn't great as he completed just 36% of his passes.

Bikash Jairu - 6/10

Jairu was a non-factor going forward but did well to keep Mumbai City FC's right flank quiet in the first half. He recorded a clearance, an interception and two tackles.

Franjo Prce - 6/10

Prce was solid at the heart of the SC East Bengal defense, making a game-high seven clearances. He almost gifted a goal away late on but luckily it amounted to nothing and should've closed Bipin Singh down quicker for the goal his side conceded.

Joyner Laurenco - 6/10

Laurenco seemed to start well but slowly faded away as Mumbai City FC grew into the game. He ended the night with a couple of blocks and an interception.

Raju Gaikwad - 6/10

Gaikwad was a threat with his throws into the box but struggled at times against Chhangte's pace. He almost scored with a bicycle kick to level the game but Nawaz came up with an excellent reflex save.

Lalrinliana Hnamte - 6.5/10

Hnamte looked bright once again for SC East Bengal and set up a couple of good chances for his teammates in the first half. His influence seemed to fade away a little in the second period as he ended the game with no shots on target.

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Mohammed Rafique - 6/10

Rafique offered plenty of energy as always, but didn't really threaten Mumbai City FC's defense at any point in the game. He managed no shots on target or key passes and won only two of his eight duels.

Saurav Das - 6/10

Das wasn't his usual influential self, but did win two ground duels and an aerial duel while completing 78% of his attempted passes.

Naorem Mahesh Singh - 7/10

Mahesh Singh was easily the best SC East Bengal player in this game. The forward had a bright start and troubled Dakshinamurthy in the first half, even creating a couple of good chances and forcing a save from Nawaz. He also contributed defensively, managing four tackles and two interceptions.

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Francisco Sota - 6.5/10

Sota had a decent game and linked up extremely well with his teammates in the first half. He recorded a team-high three key passes, had a shot on target and even completed three of his five crosses.

However, his level evidently dropped towards the end. Sota also missed a glorious chance to bring his side level when he shot over the bar from point-blank range.

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Thongkhosiem Haokip - 6/10

Haokip had a couple of half-chances in the first half but couldn't punish Mumbai City FC. His defensive workrate was good as he made three clearances but SC East Bengal need more from him going forward.

Substitutes

Jackichand Singh - 6/10

Jackichand Singh replaced Mahesh Singh in the 63rd minute. He didn't offer the same threat, though his pace did create some minor openings.

Darren Sidoel - 6/10

Sidoel came on for Das in the 63rd minute. He didn't add too much going forward but did his job defensively, winning two tackles and five ground duels.