Mumbai FC turn on the style with the thrashing of MS Police to register their ninth successive win

by Kaushal Shukla December 22, 2014

Mumbai FC produced an almost perfect performance, as they humiliated the Maharshtra State Police (MS Police) 8-0 in an Elite Division game of the MDFA (Mumbai District Football Association) held at Cooperage on Sunday, 21st December 2014.

Mumbai FC striker was involved in twin attacks around the 10th minute mark when he nearly got on the end of a cross after turning provider for Pradeep Mohanraj who volleyed wide. MS Police had an opening of their own in the 11th minute when Mosin Mohammed failed to deliver the final ball after a quick counter found him in acres of space.

Mumbai FC opened the scoring in the 13th minute when striker Josimar Da Silva tapped in from close range after chesting down a cross from Collin Abranches. It was a poor defending from MS Police who allowed Josimar Da Silva so much time and space to control the ball in the box.

Mumbai FC controlled proceedings as they conjured up few chances as the game approached the half hour mark. In the 27th minute MS Police failed to make a mistake from Mumbai FC goalkeeper Nidhin Lal count as Ankush Ramteke overhit his cross after Nidhin Lal made a mess of a cross.

Two minutes later Josimar Da Silva was denied his second goal of the afternoon by a raised offside flag after Rohit Mirza and Amose’s combined efforts set Josimar Da Silva on his path.

Mumbai FC were awarded a penalty in the 33rd minute after MS Police’s Parag Sawant handled the ball. No.10 Josimar stepped up to send his kick wide. It was a casual effort from the striker as MS Police got off the hook.

In the 40th minute, Cletus Paul nearly scored as lobbed over the keeper only to see his effort go wide and his appeals for a penalty rightly turned down. A minute later MS Police’s Faraz Shaikh fires a free kick inches over the cross bar. It was a great attempt from Faraz and probably the best MS Police had managed all half.

In the 44th minute, a poor clearance from the MS Police defence handed the ball straight to Collin Abranches whose cross was headed just wide by Cletus Paul. MS Police got lucky.

In the 2nd minute of stoppage time, Rohit Mirza just lobbed over after a swift counter attack from Mumbai FC resulted in Rohit being through on goal.

The referee blew for half time and Mumbai FC were good value for their lead. MS Police were content with the fact that they were still very much in the game.

The second half resumed with Cletus Paul shooting straight at the keeper after being one on one with the keeper. Mumbai FC’s No.30 should have done better.

Mumbai FC’s pressure finally gave way as relentless pressing from Mumbai FC forced an error from the MS Police defence as Josimar Da Silva won the ball in a dangerous area to pass it to Taisuke, who raced pass the defenders and the goalkeeper and finish in the 53rd minute to double Mumbai FC’s lead. MS Police respond immediately with a substitution as they sent Amjad Khan in place of Azar Shaikh. But that doesn’t stop Mumbai FC from further increasing the lead in the 59th minute as Cletus Paul finished off a brilliant move started by Rohit Mirza who fed Josimar Da Silva who returned it back to the galloping Rohit Mirza and whose cut back is finished off by Cletus Paul.

Josimar nearly made it four a minute later when he missed a one on one with the keeper. But he was almost instantly returned the chance as Mumbai FC were awarded yet another penalty in the 61st minute after substitute Jayesh Rane was fouled. The returning ISL man Jayesh made a great impact after coming on.

Josimar made no mistakes this time as he slotted the penalty home to make it 4-0 in Mumbai FC’s favor. Five minutes later, Mumbai FC added yet another and this was the pick of the lot so far as Pradeep Mohanraj fired a shot into the top corner from twenty five yards.

Three minutes later, Jayesh Rane almost made it six as he shot centimeters wide after being picked out by a long ball from midfield. But he got his in the 73rd minute when he tapped in a Taisuke cross to make it 6-0. Four minutes later Rahul Bheke’s header is cleared off the line.

MS Police couldn’t wish for the final whistle to be any sooner, but there was more misery in store for them. Josimar’s effort was parried onto the crossbar by the MS Police goalkeeper in the 80th minute.

But he finally got his hat-trick when Mumbai FC were awarded a penalty in the 81st minute which Josimar converted to complete his hat-trick and to land Mumbai FC in seventh heaven. It became better for Mumbai FC as they struck again from the restart as Josimar’s dinged cross was volleyed home by Jayesh Rane in the 83rd minute to make it 8-0.

There was more agony for MS Police as Taufiq Sayyad vented his frustration as he hit out at Dane Perreira and was sent off by the referee. The referee blew for full time as Mumbai FC made it nine out of nine in this season’s Elite Division.

Hat-trick hero Josimar Da Silva was delighted with his hat-trick which saw his tally rise to ten goals in eight games. “I’m very happy. I have scored ten goals in eight games and I am happy with that. The team is getting a lot of confidence from these wins and hopefully we win more games and this Elite Division”.

Rohit Mirza made his first start since his return from Mumbai City FC and ISL and he was delighted to be back. “I’m really glad to be back at my club where I have been for six years and the ISL was a great experience for me”.
He believed the team is doing very well and they are slowly getting ready for the I-League. “I am happy with the way things have gone for us in the Elite Division. Even though we face lower level oppositions, these games help us get in shape and gain confidence. Today’s performance was good, everybody played well and we scored eight goals which is always nice against any opposition”.

Mumbai FC were also able to welcome star Climax Lawrence who made a brief appearance from the bench. Mumbai FC will only get stronger from here as they will look to make it ten out of ten in the next game.