Mumbai City FC returned from a two-goal deficit to hold Mohun Bagan Super Giant 2-2 in the 2024-25 Indian Super League at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Friday.
Two goals in either half meant the Islanders and Mariners played out a draw.
Mumbai City seemingly took the lead in the 4th minute. Jayesh Rane set Bipin Singh free on the left wing, who cut inside on his right to send in a cross. Nikolaos Karelis was the target but the flight of the ball evaded the Greek forward as the cross landed at the feet of Lallianzuala Chhangte. He, in turn, passed it on for Jon Toral at the edge of the box, as he took a well-aimed shot that was needlessly turned in by Bipin at the far post. As the celebrations began at the Islanders bench, the off-side flag went up and the goal was scratched off.
That was the wake-up call that the home side needed. In the 9th minute of the game, a Liston Colaco had the telling touch.
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A free-kick wasn’t cleared far enough by the Mumbai defenders as Subhashis Bose found the Mohun Bagan winger free on the left. Liston eased past his marker as his cross took a wicked deflection from Hmingthan Mawia to take keeper Phurba Lachenpa by surprise. The ball awkwardly bounced off the keeper, into an unprepared Tiri and into the empty net.
Mumbai had a great chance to bring parity to the scoreline in the 14th minute, as it was Bipin again who drove down the left flank and sent in another cross at the other end for Chhangte. His cross was directed at Karelis, who ended up heading wide.
It was Mohun Bagan though who doubled their lead. Mumbai failed to clear the ball far enough as Jason Cummings recycled the loose ball over to Ashish Rai, who sent in a searching ball at the back post. Greg Stewart was alert and cushioned the ball back in the mix as Alberto Rodriguez poked home the second in the 28th minute.
Mumbai City FC were forced into a change as Jeremy Manzoro replaced Jon Toral as the half ended with Mumbai piling on the pressure but Mohun Bagan stood tall in defence to see out the attacks.
After the restart, the attacks continued for the Islanders as Karelis found the ball at his feet inside the box but given the difficult angle, chose to lay it off for Manzoro, who blasted his shot far and wide in the 51st minute.
Come the 70th minute, Mumbai City FC managed to pull a goal back as Tiri made up for his earlier error. Substitute Noufal PN’s cross after a short corner saw Subhasish and Tiri go up for a header. In the melee, the ball bounced in Tiri’s favour, who smashed the ball into the back of the net off Ashish.
There were plenty of changes from the bosses and the chances too. The most telling in the end was that of recently crowned Intercontinental champion Thaer Krouma at the stroke of 90. Noufal PN found the Mumbai City FC defender, whose right-footed shot curled along the ground, past an outstretched Vishal Kaith and into the bottom right.
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