NorthEast United 2-2 Mumbai City FC: 3 Reasons why the Islanders could only manage a draw | ISL 2019-20

#2 The visitors fail to make the most of their possession

Mumbai couldn't build on their first half performance

Over the past season and a half, Mumbai City have earned a reputation for being a team that likes to concede possession and hit their opponents on the break. However, those tables turned on Wednesday as the Islanders enjoyed more of the ball, meaning that they completed 135 more passes than the hosts.

Unfortunately, though, the visitors couldn’t maximise their dominance on the ball as they failed to carve open NorthEast United adequately.

Apart from the first goal, the visitors lacked a touch of conviction and decisiveness in the final third. Diego Carlos found himself in countless promising positions but he was guilty of letting his side down whereas Chermiti also missed a gilt-edged opportunity in the second period.

However, more alarmingly, they seemed to be devoid of a cutting edge, especially when NorthEast retreated and decided to defend in an extremely deep defensive block.

Once the above had materialised, Mumbai’s long balls were launched more in hope than anticipation while their monotonous offensive movements were telegraphed comfortably by the hosts.

Coming into the encounter, the Islanders had endured a couple of drubbings at the hands of Goa and Odisha. Thus, on footballing logic, they would’ve been happy if offered a point at Guwahati before the game.

Yet, once the game transpired the way it did, Mumbai might just be left wondering what could’ve been, especially if they’d managed to make more of a fist of their ball possession.