Nigerian striker MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi scored both the goals for the hosts in the second half, leaving the visitors with 12 points from as many matches.

The return fixture against a team they had hammered 5-0 at home was always going to be a difficult task for Mumbai City FC, who were missing the creative force of Andre Moritz, marquee signing Freddie Ljungberg and Nicolas Anelka due to injury.

Coach Peter Reid was forced to make four changes to the line-up he fielded in the last game with Mumbai City FC being the first ISL team to field seven Indians. It also meant that goalkeeper Subrata Pal and the defence had to work extra hard in the first half to ensure that they stayed in the hunt.

The India international was once again at the top of his game as he came up with a couple of point blank saves denying Kostas Kastouranis and Dudu just before the half an hour mark.

The introduction of Lalrindika Ralte in the 29th minute added some bite to the Mumbai City FC attack and the experienced Abhishek Yadav had the best chance of the half in the 42nd minute but his header went just wide.

The visitors began the second half with much more purpose and should have taken the lead when FC Pune City defender Pritam Kotal handled the ball inside his penalty box. But Tiago Ribeiro failed to beat Arindam Bhattacharya and gave the hosts a lifeline they grabbed with both hands.

Dudu finally managed to break the resolute defence of Pal when he superbly controlled a Kostas cross on his chest and then volleyed it inside the net from close range in the 66th minute.

The hosts had a chance to double the lead two minutes later but Pal was up to the task as he safely parried a shot from Kwang-II Park.

With the visitors pushing for an equaliser, Dudu found the net for the second time in the 80th minute to take the match away from Mumbai City FC.

“We don’t want to give any excuses. The better team won today. That’s football, that’s how it goes sometimes. We just want to focus on the next two games now,” Mumbai City FC coach Peter Reid said.

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Mumbai City FC, co-owned by Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor and Chartered Accountant Bimal Parekh, are currently at the bottom of the standings with 12 points from 11 matches and need to get as many points possible from their remaining three matches in the league stage to stay in hunt for one of the semi-final spots.

As things stand in the competition, all eight teams can still make it to the knock-out stage as Mumbai City FC coach Peter Reid would be looking for a stroke of inspiration following two consecutive disappointing defeats against table toppers Chennaiyin FC and Delhi Dynamos FC.

And there could have not been a better opponent to provide the team a morale booster but FC Pune City, whom they had thumped 5-0 in the home fixture earlier on in the ISL.

Brazilian born Andre Moritz was the star of that encounter scoring the tournament’s only hattrick so far and the midfield would once again have to take the responsibility of creating more scoring opportunities for the team that hasn’t really managed to find the net with the same authority since that game.

Injuries continue to plague the team as hattrick hero Andre Moritz remains on the injury list with Jan Stohanzl suspended for his four yellow cards, while there are fitness worries about Nicolas Anelka and Freddie Ljungberg. But whoever takes the field for Mumbai City on Wednesday night will have to put in an extra ordinary effort to get the elusive win, which would put Mumbai City FC’s campaign back on track.

Mumbai City FC coach confirmed that top stars like Moritz, Freddie Ljungberg, and Anelka will not be playing in Pune due to injury. Skipper Nabi, however, expressed confidence despite the absence of those top stars. “We are going to miss them, but we are going to fight. We are going to give our best,” Nabi said.

Coach Reid said, “We know we can beat Pune. We have done that in Mumbai, and now need to do that here in Pune. We are in a must win situation now, and hopefully we can produce a win against Pune”.

Regards,

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