From 8th to 3rd: Mumbai City FC’s dramatic rise after defeating Kalina Rangers

by Chittu Shetty March 22, 2025

Shoaib Baig’s early goal for Kalina Rangers was overturned by Mumbai City FC’s set-piece prowess as Kunal Raghav and a late own goal secured them a 2-1 win, shaking up the MPL title race

After a rocky start in the championship playoff round, Mumbai City FC has regained their momentum, securing 7 points out of a possible 9 in their last three matches. Their latest performance came against Kalina Rangers, resulting in a hard-fought 2-1 victory.

Kalina Rangers entered this fixture riding a wave of confidence from their previous win, with their standout player, Shoaib Baig, playing a crucial role in every match this season. Shoaib, currently tied as the tournament’s top scorer, continued his scoring streak against Young Islanders and opened the scoring early in this match.

Just 18 minutes into the game, Kalina broke the deadlock. Craig D’Souza, the center-back, made a brilliant run from the center of the field into the penalty box. Faced with a one-on-one situation against goalkeeper Shaurya, he dribbled past him before selflessly squared the ball to Shoaib Baig, who was making a run from behind for an easy tap-in.

The Young Islanders did not sit back; they surged forward in search of an equalizer. Going into halftime without a goal would have been a different story for them. In dramatic fashion, at the 45+1 minute mark, City scored an equalizer. Parvez Shah delivered a sublime corner kick that found Aadil Sheikh unmarked at the edge of the box. Aadil controlled the ball and attempted a volley that was well saved by Scott, but Kunal Raghav was quick to react and finished the deflected shot into the net.

This first-half goal shifted the momentum of the game. As the second half began, Mumbai City FC capitalized on another set piece. Few teams have effectively converted set pieces this season in the Mumbai Premier League, but after MYJ-GM, the Young Islanders have lived up to expectations. Parvez Shah, who has been impressive since earning regular starts in recent games, delivered another free-kick from the corner flag at the 69-minute mark. Unfortunately for Kalina Rangers, Troy D’Souza’s header ended up in his own net, giving Mumbai City FC a 2-1 lead.

In response to going down, Kalina Rangers’ head coach Prithvi Victor made several crucial substitutions. However, Mumbai City’s defense, led by skipper Sayyam Desai, held firm and successfully thwarted Kalina Rangers’ attempts to equalize.

Before this match, Kalina Rangers were sitting third in the table while Mumbai City FC occupied eighth place. This fixture outcome drastically changed their standings: Mumbai City climbed to third place while Kalina dropped to sixth. The competition at the top remains tight, with only 2-3 points separating teams vying for the top spots. With just 3-4 games remaining in the season, fans can expect an exciting finish.

Stay tuned to FootballCounter for exclusive coverage!

Mumbai Super League Fixtures, Standings and News – Click Here

Mumbai Premier League Fixtures, Standings and News – Click Here

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest happenings in the world of Indian Football.