Mumbai City FC cruises into Durand Cup Quarterfinals with commanding victory

by Chittu Shetty August 19, 2023

Mumbai City FC showcased their dominance in Group B with a commanding 4-0 win over Indian Navy FT, securing their spot in the quarterfinals of the 132nd IndianOil Durand Cup.

The impressive victory was highlighted by goals from Jorge Pereyra Diaz, Greg Stewart, Gurkirat Singh, and Nathan Asher Rodrigues.

In a display of sheer firepower, Mumbai City FC wrapped up their Group B campaign in style with a resounding 4-0 triumph over Indian Navy FT at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. The victory solidified their position in the quarterfinals of the tournament, underlining their intent to claim the coveted Durand Cup title.

Mumbai City FC’s Head Coach, Des Buckingham, fielded a robust starting lineup, making only one change with Lallinzuala Chhangte taking the field in place of Hmingthanmawia. The team’s tactical approach saw them starting with two defenders and employing defensive midfielder Yoell Van Nieff as the third center-back. On the other side, Indian Navy’s Head Coach, V.S Abhilash Nair, fielded a lineup brimming with strength to contend against the reigning runners-up.

From the opening whistle, Mumbai City FC exhibited an aggressive attacking front, consistently pressuring the Indian Navy defense. The likes of Greg Stewart, L. Chhangte, Bipin Singh, Jorge Pereyra Diaz, Alberto Noguera, and Vikram Partap Singh seamlessly penetrated the Navy ranks. The Navymen’s goalkeeper, Vishnu V.K, showcased his prowess with remarkable saves, while defenders thwarted shots off the line to keep the opponents at bay.

However, Mumbai’s persistence paid off in the 34th minute when Bipin Singh’s precise pass found Jorge Pereyra Diaz, who calmly tapped the ball in to secure the lead. Despite Mumbai finding the back of the net twice more, both instances were disallowed due to offside calls. Indian Navy’s steadfast defense prevented Mumbai from expanding their advantage before halftime.

After the break, Des Buckingham introduced Sanjeev Stalin for Vikram Pratap Singh, shifting the team to a more conventional 4-3-3 formation. This alteration in strategy didn’t alter their attacking approach, as Mumbai continued to unleash their offensive prowess. Despite Mumbai’s relentless efforts, the Navy defenders remained resolute, fending off each attempt. It took 17 minutes for Mumbai to break through once again, this time through L. Chhangte’s precise cross that was expertly headed into the net by Greg Stewart, despite being surrounded by defenders.

Mumbai found the net again, only for it to be disallowed for offside – a recurring theme in the match. In a testament to their depth, Mumbai’s young guns were given the chance to shine as they were introduced into the game. Gurkirat Singh capitalized on a precise through ball from Greg Stewart, sealing his first goal of the tournament. As injury time loomed, Nathan Asher Rodrigues concluded the match with a clinical finish, capitalizing on a loose ball from a corner to net Mumbai’s fourth goal.

Upcoming Super Sunday

On the horizon, Mohammedan SC will face Jamshedpur FC in an electrifying Group B encounter set to take place at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan.

In the earlier fixture of the day, Northeast United FC will cross paths with Downtown Heroes FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati at 2:30 PM. A triumph for Northeast United will secure their berth in the highly anticipated quarterfinals.

Also Read: Unveiling India’s futsal debut: A candid conversation with player Jayesh Sutar

Also Read: Chennaiyin FC continues dominance with 2-1 win over Delhi FC, tops Group E in Durand Cup

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