Goregaon F.C. stumble to Mumbai Muslims S.C., who ran-out comfortable 2-0 winners in the end

by Balbir Singh January 31, 2016

Early goals from Afshaan Shaikh and Tabrez Shaikh of Mumbai Muslims S.C. secured a must-need win and a vital 2-0 result versus Goregaon F.C.
Mumbai Muslims S.C. faced Goregaon F.C. – in what was a must-win game for both the teams, fighting a relegation-battle in group ‘B’ – on Sunday afternoon, 31st January 2016, at Goans Sports Association ground, Churchgate.
The opening minutes of the match saw Goregaon F.C. starting-off on the back-foot as Mumbai Muslims S.C. exerted attacking-pressure straight from the onset – earning a hatful of corners in the opening ten minutes, but narrowly missed-out from scoring the opener; first, Tabrez Shaikh dragged his header wide to the left from the near-post area, second, Afshaan Shaikh somehow managed to drag an open-headed opportunity wide to the right-side of the goal.
After a brief spell in the opposition-half, Goregaon F.C. were on the back-foot (again) and, this time, Mumbai Muslims S.C. converted from a cross directed at the far-post area, where an unmarked Afshaan Shaikh made no mistake in hammering the ball into the back of the net to give his team a vital and deserved advantage in the 13th minute.
Everytime, Mumbai Muslims S.C. attacked they sent a message of purpose of goal-scoring intent with it, and in the 21st minute, a fine long-range effort from outside the box by Tabrez Shaikh doubled Mumbai Muslims S.C.’s lead. Both sides played open-attacking-football, but Goregaon F.C., who played narrow – failed to cope with Mumbai Muslim S.C.’s over-lapping full-back runs, particularly on the counter-attack.
With 2 goals at their disposal, Mumbai Muslims S.C. were comfortable inviting pressure from Goregaon F.C. as they tried to attack on the break. Goregaon F.C., who enjoyed their finest spell in the final-15 minutes of the first-half, where they had a number of chances to get back into the game, their inability to synchronize as a team cost G.F.C. two early goals and chances they failed to convert – failing to utilize their dominance in making a genuine scoring chance.
The second-45 minutes began at a fine tone for Goregaon F.C. as they pursued to repair damages from the first-half. On the other-hand, Mumbai Muslims S.C. were less content and worked through as the game planned-out to earn maximum points, when it mattered the most.
With the match entering its final few minutes, the second-half didn’t possess much in it, whether in terms of goals scored or chances created. As the referee blew the full-time whistle, Goregaon F.C. were beaten by Mumbai Muslims S.C. by 2-0 with the second-half display from both the sides was nothing, but stagnant with Mumbai Muslims S.C. coming-out victorious as a result of a praiseworthy first-half display; giving them an edge over their compatriots from group ‘B’ going into the final round of group-stage matches in the quest for survival.