ISL 3: Forlan Hat-trick powers Mumbai to top

by Chittu Shetty November 20, 2016

The Uruguayan rolled back years with a classy hat-trick as Mumbai city FC thrashed Kerala Blasters FC 5-0 as they moved to the top of the league.

Forlan Scored the first hat-trick of ISL 3

Mumbai City FC, who had one of the best forward line boasting of Marquee signing Diego Forlan, Defederico, Leo Costa, Cafu, Norde and Indian star Sunil Chhetri, finally came into party firing five goals past a hapless Kerala defence. Diego Forlan scored the first hat-trick of the Indian Super League 2017 season along with a goal each from Cafu and Goian to take Mumbai to top of the table with 18 points.

After Kadio tried his luck in the second minute of game, with ball going just wide of the top right corner, Mumbai went ahead in the fifth minute as Forlan found himself through on goal, courtesy a brilliant lofted ball by Matias Defederico and executed a clinical first-time finish.

37 year old Forlan seemed to have found the rhythm of his younger days when he tried a shot from around 35 yards, the Uruguayan powerful Goal Bound shot was parried away for corner by Stack. In the 14^th minute, Mumbai doubled the lead, when Forlan fired in a direct free-kick from just outside the box to perfection with full stretched Stack beaten.

Kerala tried to get back into the game but failed terribly at the final end. Amrinder Singh had no trouble in seeing off long shots that were attempted by the Kerala forwards after they failed to break in the Mumbai defence in the entire first half.

Also Read: ISL 3: Pune triumph in a seven goal thriller

In the 62^nd minute, Kerala had an opportunity to pull one back when from an ensuing corner the ball fell for unmarked CK Vineeth but the strikers shot between the Mumbai defence was saved by Amrinder at the back.

A minute later, Mumbai were back into attack with the Defederico making a run inside the ball, the ball fell for Cafu after deflection as the Brazilian Midfielder passed it to open Forlan at the far post. Forlan snuck the ball between the legs of advancing Graham Stack as he completed a well deserving hat-trick.

Six minute later, Cafu Joined the party when after the receiving the ball from Defederico just outside the box, the Brazilian unleashed an powerful shot past stack to the top far corner to make it 4-0 in favour of Mumbai

Shortly after, in another corner for Mumbai, Defederico provided his third assist of the game when his cross was headed in to the goal by a powerful Goian header. Mumbai ended the game with their best home ground Score-line as they displaced Delhi at the top while Kerala remained at third.

Mumbai city FC 5 (Forlan 5’, 14’, 63’, Cafu 69’, Goian 73’) – 0 Kerala Blasters FC