Mumbai City ride to win on Brazilian flavor

by Chittu Shetty November 25, 2017

Brazilians Everton Dos Santos and 22 year old Thiago Santos were on target for Mumbai as the home pick their first win of Indian Super League season 4 Campaign

Everton Leandro Dos Santos Pinto of Mumbai City FC in action during match 8 of the Hero Indian Super League between Mumbai City FC and FC Goa held at the Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai India on the 25th November 2017
Photo by: Vipin Pawar / ISL / SPORTZPICS

In an enthralling game the host ended with all three points after second half goals from Everton Santos and Thiago Santos was enough for Mumbai to win their first home game in front of packed house at Mumbai Football Arena.

Mumbai City started with two changes in their lineup that started against Bengaluru FC, Achille Emana replacing Leo Costa and Balwant Striker returning from injury to replace Sahil Tavora. At the other end Goa started with two changes in Brandon fernandes replacing Chinglensana Singh and Manuel Rodriguez coming in for Bruno Pinheiro.

The game started sluggishly with neither side managing to hold the ball for longer time. Goa looked the better one with the some sleek passes while Mumbai’s reputed defense holding strong. The first good move came from the visitors in the 14^th minute when Lanzarote and Corominas combined well with some quick one two but Gerson Vieira blocked the penultimate move to deny Goans an opening. However few minutes later, Goian came up with a solid block to deny Corominas shot troubling Amrinder after the Spaniard did well to get to the end of a good cross in the box.

In the 23^rd minute, however a golden chance came to Mumbai’s way from unlikely of source when Goan defender Seriton’s last ditch tackle almost went into the net eventually coming off the post. At the half hour mark, Mumbai came close when Emana found Balwant free on the left in an one on one situation however the Indian international’s final shot was wide in to the side netting.  Mumbai soon began to grow in to the game with better moves with Emana dictating the attack. With minutes left to half time break, Everton Santos snatched a ball before driving in to the game but his final shots was blocked away by the defender.

In the injury time before break, FC Goa almost took lead but Amrinder came up with an exceptional save to deny Coro a goal as both sides went into break with at 0-0. Second half began with Mumbai coming out aggressively with two quick attack through Balwant, the first was well saved by Kattimani while the second went just wide. At the other end, Goa once again almost took the lead when Bruno’s lofted shot from left looped over Amrinder, coming off the post before the Mumbai custodian got back up and got hold of the ball.

End to end football ensued with both sides coming close but lacking the finishing touch. However minutes before hour mark Everton Santos found the net after another mistake from Kattimani giving away goa’s good work. Chasing the ball after defender the Everton’s persistence paid off after he pounced on Kattimani’s slow reaction on ball to get Mumbai a lead.

Goa soon looked to hit back with series of moves but once again lacked in their final touch. Even luck seemed to elude them when a slick 1-2 passing move ended with Coro finding the net only to be adjudged offside by the linesman with replays suggesting otherwise.

Mumbai soon had another chance when Abinash Ruidas mades a good tackle to win the ball before passing it to Achille Emana, the big man charged forward through the middle beating couple of defender before being finally robbed off the ball in the box. With final stretch on, Emana was soon replaced with 22 year old Brazilian Thiago Dos Santos, the big man’s absence was soon felt as Goa finally equalized minutes later through their quick short passing when a defensive mistake allowed Coro to run with ball before sliding it to an unmarked Manuel Rodriguez. Goa had another chance few minutes later to take the lead when Lanzarote took a shot from outside the box only to be tipped over by Amrinder.

Minutes later, Mumbai took the lead when substitute Thiago Santos took the ball from a cross at the centre before making run in to the box beating his marker. The Brazilian did well to slid the ball past Kattimani through an acute angle as Mumbai went on to take all three points.

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