A big crowd gathered at the D Y Patil stadium to witness the action of their home team, and they were thoroughly entertained by a high quality performance from the Mumbai City FC unit that dominated proceedings all the way. Andre Moritz’s goals in the 12^th, 27^th and 71^th minute, as well as goals from Subhash Singh (37^th minute) and Johann Letzelter (85^th minute) allowed MCFC to completely dominate the FCPC, who paid for some very ordinary defending.

Mumbai City FC 5-0 FC Pune City

Following a loss in their opening game, MCFC showed a lot of courage and played superb counter-attacking and aggressive game. FC Pune City managed to have just one shot on target to Mumbai City FC’s 11, such was the latter’s domination.

Mumbai made four changes to their starting XI that played against Atletico de Kolkata in the tournament opener. Skipper Syed Rahim Nabi, who has been ruled out for three weeks due to injury, was replaced by Brazil born Andre Moritz while Subhash Singh came in to complete the Indian quota in place of Argentine Diego Nadaya.

Moritz immediately showed his worth when the Italian passport holder scored MCFC’s first goal of the tournament against the run of play in the 12th minute.

The attacking midfielder made a run from the right, cut in just before the FC Pune City box and unleashed a low left footer to beat the goalkeeper.

Till then the visitors had dominated the proceedings with their marquee player David Trezeguet wasting a free-kick from the edge of the box in the third minute.

But just when it felt like the hosts were being put under pressure by FCPC’s free flowing football, Moritz struck and changed the complexion of the game.

MCFC then began to assert themselves more and Nadung Bhutia could have made it 2-0 with a close range header only to be denied by the goalkeeper. However, Moritz flicked in the resulting corner to double his team’s advantage in the 27th minute and Subhash Singh made it 3-0 ten minutes later with a low right footer despite being a lone MCFC player upfront on the counter.

Subhash had a chance to add to his tally five minutes from half time but could only stab the ball wide off a through ball from the half line.

Moritz completed his hat-trick in the 70^th minute, just three minutes after the arrival of star player Freddie Ljungberg, showing some great skill. An error from a FCPC defender gave Moritz the ball in dangerous area, and the Brazilian then moved forward with purpose, put the brakes on to beat defender Cirillo, and comfortably slotted the ball past the goalkeeper with a low right-footed shot. This turned out to be the first hat-trick in the Indian Super League.

Frenchman Johan Letzelter then added more misery on a hapless FCPC defence by adding a fifth for Mumbai City FC in the 85^th.

Mumbai City FC coach Peter Reid was obviously happy with the team’s performance, and said the home crowd created a terrific atmosphere. “It was a great comeback after the defeat in Kolkata. We passed well, which was one of our targets. We are looking forward to maintain that in the future games,” the coach said.

Man-of-the-Match Andre Moritz said, “Every game is different. And therefore it’s important to play well in every game. I am delighted to have contributed today, and I am looking forward to contribute to the team’s cause in the future.”

Another goal-scorer Subhash Singh said he was delighted to have scored and is looking forward to continue his goal-scoring form in the future games.

Result:

Mumbai City FC 5 (Andre Moritz 12, 27, 71; Subhash Singh 37, Johann Letzelter 85) bt FC Pune City 0.

Hero of the Match: Andre Moritz;

Swift Moment of the match: Subhash Singh;

Fit player of the match: Lalrindika Ralte;

Outstanding young talent: Subhash Singh

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Atletico De Kolkata Vs Mumbai City FC

The evening game followed a lovely opening ceremony hosted by bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra.

Fikru Tefera Lemessa (27^th min), Borja Fernandes (69^th) and Arnal Llibert (90+) scored the goals for the hosts with the second and third coming against the run of play. As the match statistics prove, Mumbai City FC had more possession and more attempts on goal but just could not convert them into goals.

With the match being played on the artificial turf of the Salt Lake stadium, Mumbai City FC needed some time to settle down but their custodian Subrata Pal was on the ball from the very first minute and came to the rescue of the team twice in the first 10 minutes.

With Mumbai choosing to play an attacking strategy with a high defence line, it was clear that the goalkeeper would have a major role to play whenever the opposition managed to break the stranglehold and push forward.

Pal was called into action in the seventh minute itself when he left his line early to stop Baljit Sahni from converting a through pass from Luis Garcia. Three minutes later, India international was once again at the right place to block Garcia’s left-footed volley from the six yard box to keep Mumbai City FC in the hunt.

But the 27-year-old stopper failed to stop Fikru Teferra from giving the hosts the lead when he latched on to another through pass from Garcia to chip the ball over the advancing Pal.

The goal, however, did little to dampen the spirit of the Mumbai City FC players as they grew confident as the game progressed and the team earned a couple of free-kicks near the opponent’s citadel, before a twisted ankle forced skipper Syed Rahim Nabi to be substituted in the 39^th minute and forcing coach Peter Reid to re-arrange his troops.

The introduction of Brazilian born Italian midfielder Andre Moritz brought more bite to Mumbai City FC’s attack as they made a couple of threatening moves down the left flank. At this stage the visitors had more shots on goal than their opponents but an act of brilliance from Spaniard Borja Fernandez beat Pal from a long range to make it 2-0 for Atletico de Kolkata in the 69^th minute against the run of play.

Mumbai City FC continued to press forward to find their first goal of the game but Atletico de Kolkata custodian Subashish Roy Choudhary first deflected Cmovs’s long ranger that was deflected off a defender and then kept out a close range header of Manuel Friedrich to keep the hosts in the driver’s seat.

And the injury time goal from Arnal Llibert on the counter ended Mumbai City FC’s hopes of a later turnaround.

Coach Reid looks at positives

Mumbai City FC coach Peter Reid gave full credit to opponents Atletico de Kolkata and said he was confident of his team fighting back next week. “The first one didn’t go our way, but I am hopeful we will turn things around next week. Credit to our opponents for the way they played today, especially Louis Garcia, the way he led them.”

Mumbai City FC goalkeeper Subrata Pal also said that the the atmosphere in the team was quite positive after Sunday’s game, and the team is confident of doing well in the future games.

Result: Atletico de Kolkata 3 (Fikru Tefera Lemessa 27, Borja Fernandes 69 Arnal Llibert 90+) beat Mumbai City FC 0

Hero of the Match: Borja Fernandes; Amul Fit player Award: Denzil Franco; Swift moment of the Match: Fikru Tefera Lemessa; Emerging player of the Match: Subhashish Roy Chowdhury.

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*Syed Rahim Nabi named skipper, Manuel Friedrich to be his deputy

Mumbai, 10^th October 2014: Mumbai City FC embarks on its journey to bring back football glory to maximum city as they launch their quest in the inaugural season of the Hero Indian Super League (HISL) crown with the season opener against Atletico de Kolkata in the mecca of Indian football on Sunday.

The team, co-owned by Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor and Chartered Accountant Bimal Parekh, had already made a statement of intent when they signed the likes of ex-Arsenal legend and former Sweden skipper Freddie Ljungberg, ex-Borussia Dortmund star and former German international Manuel Friedrich and French international and 2008-09 Premier League golden boot winner Nicolas Anelka. Now under the stewardship of ex-Everton icon Peter Reid, the club is determined to make a winning start to their campaign against one of the contenders for the crown in their home ground.

Commenting on the game, coach Peter Reid said “This is the start of the competition and so it is a massive game. It is a big opportunity to play here and hopefully we will come up with the right result.”

Reid also announced that Syed Rahim Nabi would lead the team in the inaugural edition of the HISL. “From the couple of weeks I have worked with the team, I have found him a natural leader, good communicator and a bubbly character within the dressing room. I think Nabi has great experience and knowledge of the game. Manuel Friedrich would be the vice-captain,” Reid added.

In the run up to the lung opener, Mumbai City FC has had a long pre-season camp to help the foreign and Indian players gel together and understand the strengths and weaknesses of each other. And the team has certainly done a lot of progress on that front, which could be gauged by the performance of the squad in the four friendlies they played so far.

They not only won all their four games, but the co-ordination between the mid-field and strike force would make them the team to beat in the tournament. Mumbai City FC’s Argentine striker Diego Nadaya has already scored two hat-tricks in the friendlies and will be a potent force upfront.

Among the team’s star recruits, Ljungberg might play his part in the match after recovering enough from a niggle he suffered during practice. “Hopefully, Freddie will get to play his part in the game,” Reid said.

The team also has a formidable force among their Indian stars with the country’s best goalkeeper Subrata Pal manning their goal-post and skipper Syed Rahim Nabi and local star Raju Gaikwad standing tall in defence and midfield.

According to the rules of the tournament, five Indian players have to be on the field at any given time and to Mumbai City FC’s benefit, most of their first choice players have first-hand experience of playing in the City of Joy.

Nabi hoped that the team would get good support from the local crowd as some of them have played in the city for a long time. “This is the first game and hence will be massive for all of us. We expect a good support for our team and we should get a positive result,” said Nabi.

Mumbai Cit FC signs Moritz

The team also announced the signing of 28-year-old Andre Moritz to the squad and the attacking midfielder is expected to man the left flank for the team.

The Brazilian born, Italian passport holder played in the second tier English Championship for Bolton Wanderers last season and also has the experience of playing in the Turkish and Brazilian leagues.

For Bolton, Moritz made 27 appearances, scored seven goals and provided three assists.

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