Mumbai share points with Minerva Punjab at Cooperage

by FC Admin February 27, 2017

26 February 2017, Cooperage Stadium, Mumbai: Mumbai F.C. failed to score at home for the third time as Minerva Punjab F.C. take a point back home. The away side, Minerva Punjab are now on a six-match unbeaten streak. While frustration grows in the Mumbai camp after having failed to secure a win in the past nine matches.

The visiting coach Surinder Singh made two changes to the side which defeated Churchill Brothers 5-4 last-time. The Nigerian Victor Amobi and Vinit Rai Chanling were dropped to the bench as Anirudh Thapa and Altamash Sayed were introduced to the starting XI. In the opposite dough out, under pressure coach Santosh Kashyap brought Pratesh Shirodkar and Nikhil Kadam into the frame.

Mumbai operated in a 4-3-3 system as Minerva Punjab. The visitors seemed to pack the midfield with striker David Kc Ngaihte battling alone up front, while Mumbai kept a flat front three when in possession, in the first-45 minutes.

During the first five minutes, Santosh Kashyap’ side seemed to have had another difficult evening – as Minerva Punjab began the match brightly, pushing Mumbai’s Kattimani into making a couple of early saves. But the hosts responded and came out strongly as the match progressed.

The hosts, having failed to score in the last three home matches, could not make most of the chances presented to its front three. Nikhil Kadam, who found his place in the XI ahead of Brazilian Alex William Silva, proved to be the most lively of the lot; as he combined well at times to exploit Minerva’s right flank on a number of occasions. Noticeably, Mumbai’s Afghani recruit Djelaludin Sharityar made some key passes from the back, finding Kadam free down the left side, on a couple of occasions.

Thoi Singh’s headed shot, from a cross down Mumbai’s left, was the finest chance of the half from either side could fathom to break the deadlock; but a stretched Arnab Das Sarma did enough to put the ball away. If Santosh Kashyap afforded to have gone goalless in the past two home games, a half time score of 0-0 needed some changing, for Mumbai to turn their fortunes around.

At the start of the second half, Alex William Silva took place of Nikhil Kadam, as Santosh Kashyap made his first real change in the match. But as the match crossed its hour mark, the Mumbai supporters club’s chants grew louder and louder in discontent with the scoreline still at 0-0.

In the final 20 minutes, the match became as open as ever with Mumbai committing men forward in desperation and a goal more importantly. Whereas Minerva’s tactics remained largely similar as they maintained their discipline throughout. But despite the chances, neither side could generate a goal scoring touch, as frustration grew on both sets of players.

As referee R. Palmson Moses Raj blew the full-time whistle, Mumbai FC were held back in their own backyard, a place they donned during the much criticised Khalid Jamil era, for the third time as the side remains winless in nine matches.