Mumbai FC Soar To The Top With A Win Over Dena Bank

by Nixon Rodrigues November 13, 2014

Mumbai FC have now gone 2 points clear at the top of the table with a 2-0 win over Dena Bank in the MDFA Elite Divison League match played on Wednesday 12th November 2014, which was their third win in as many games.

The heavy weights dominated the entire game keeping ball possession and controlling the pace of the game at will.

Mumbai FC began attacking right from the start with experienced campaigner Paresh Shivalkar making all the running down the right, a low cross in from the winger found the head of Pradeep Mohanraj in the very 4th minute but the header was directed straight onto the crossbar.

Dena Bank looked well organized in the defence as they kept denying the Mumbai FC strikers on various occasions. Mumbai FC had a lethal advantage with right back Rahul Bheke’s long throws causing all sorts of problems for Dena Bank.

In the 17th minute Asif Ansari pulled off a stunning one handed save after Justin Stephen headed the ball towards goal from a Rahul Bheke long throw. The Dena Bank resistance was then broken in the 25th minute when a quickly taken corner was played short to Shivalkar, who made his way into the box, beating two defenders to sqaure the ball to an unmarked Manuel D’Souza for a first time shot into the goal.

With Mumbai FC’s continuous attacks Dena Bank cleverly tried to exploit the vacant spaces in their defence, in the 40th minute a swift counter attack began with a long ball being played towards the right flank, Hiten Mahida contested for an aerial duel with Kali Alaudeen after the ball was centered into the Mumbai FC box, the loose ball fell straight to Sajjid Ansari who’s shot went well over the bar.

The 2nd half saw more of a drab performance by the Mumbai FC strikers who failed to capitalize on any of their chances in the final third but much credit to the Dena Bank defence who held firm and put up a spirited performance to keep out the Mumbai FC attacks despite the introduction of Brazilian Josimar midway through the half.

The Brazilian did brilliantly to hold the ball with his physique and stature making it difficult for the Dena Bank players to take the ball off him, Josimar did well to play in John Coutinho on one such occasion but John fired his shot just inches over the bar from a narrow angle.

Mumbai FC’s second goal came through a contentious decision in the 75th minute, when a cross by Paresh Shivalkar caught Dena Bank right back, Noel Rodrigues square on the shoulder but Referee Louis Fernandes saw otherwise and awarded a penalty much to the surprise of the Dena Bank players. The decision stood despite the protests of the players and Paresh Shivalkar stepped up to the spot, to calmly convert his penalty throwing Asif Ansari to the wrong side and comfortably placing the ball to his right.

The goal put Mumbai FC in a commanding position for them to see off the game with a few minutes left to be played. Mumbai FC currently occupy the top spot with 9 points, Mumbai Customs with 7 points are in 2nd position both having played three games each.