Mumbai Premier League: Hope United, IOT ends in a thrilling draw, Mumbay FC climbs to Third

by Chittu Shetty March 20, 2025

The Mumbai Premier League Championship Playoff continued to deliver high-stakes drama as Mumbay FC secured a much-needed win, while league leaders India On Track FC and Hope United played out a tense draw, keeping the title race wide open.

Mumbay FC finally put an end to their four-game winless run with a convincing 2-0 victory over ICL Mumbai FC. Coming into the match, ICL Mumbai had a golden opportunity to close the gap at the top, but the loss sees them drop to seventh in the standings.

The breakthrough came early, in the 13th minute, when A. Regan delivered a precise corner that Arun Nagial met with a powerful header, putting Mumbay FC ahead.

The second goal came from another attacking move by Mumbay FC, leading to a foul inside the box and a penalty being awarded. Kaustubh Ravindra stepped up and coolly converted, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to seal the 2-0 win. The victory propels Mumbay FC to third place in the league table, keeping their title hopes alive.

FT: ICL Mumbai FC 0-2 Mumbay FC (Arun Nagial 13‘, Kaustubh Ravindra 32′(P))

A highly anticipated clash between the top two teams in the league table lived up to expectations, with Hope United and India On Track FC playing out a pulsating 1-1 draw. Both sides produced end-to-end football in a tightly contested encounter, underlining their championship credentials.

After an hour of relentless back-and-forth action, India On Track finally broke the deadlock in the 61st minute. Nishant Shetty initiated an attack down the left flank, finding Lelsemba in space on the wing. Lelsemba cut the ball back to Adithyan, who delivered a perfectly timed through ball into the box. Saurabh Nikam latched onto it and struck a precise left-footed shot past the goalkeeper to put IOT ahead.

Hope United, determined to find an equalizer, intensified their attacking efforts and nearly scored with a header that went just over the bar. Their persistence finally paid off in the 85th minute when captain Aaron D’Costa made a crucial move down the right wing, turning past his marker before whipping in a dangerous low cross. A miscommunication between the IOT defender and goalkeeper allowed the ball to slip through, leaving an unmarked Cletus Paul to tap home the equalizer, much to the delight of the home fans.

The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with both teams sharing the points. With 12 points each, India On Track FC remain at the top of the table on goal difference, while Hope United stay close behind. The title race is now more exciting than ever, with three teams following closely with eight points and a game in hand, ready to capitalize on any slip-ups from the leaders.

With just a few games remaining, every match becomes crucial as the Mumbai Premier League Championship Playoff nears its climax. Fans can expect more thrilling encounters as teams fight for supremacy in one of the most competitive seasons in recent memory.

FT: Hope United FC (Cletus Paul 86′) 1-1 India on Track FC (Saurabh Nikam 61′)

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