Mumbai City confirms playoff spot after winning 1-0 against ATK Mohun Bagan

Mumbai City won 1-0 against ATK Mohun Bagan away from home thanks to a brilliant goal by Chhangte in the first half. Despite a rigorous fightback by the Mariners in the second half, the Islanders held onto their slender lead thanks to some amazing saves by Phurba and resolute defending.

Des Buckingham made two changes to the starting XI that won against Kerala Blasters at home as Rowlin Borges and Alberto Noguera came in for Apuia and Jorge Pereyra Diaz in the Islanders’ starting line-up.

The Islanders started the game swiftly as they settled into their passing game rhythm right from the first whistle. The Islanders carved out the first chance of the game in the 3rd minute when they won the ball very high up the pitch thanks to their intense pressing in the opening minutes of the game. After Chhangte nicked the ball and bore down on goal firing his shot away but was saved expertly by Vishal Kaith who denied Chhangte to open the Islanders’ account in this game.

Mumbai City carved out their next chance of the game in the 6th minute of the match. A smooth sequence of passes by the Islanders saw Greg carrying the ball and leading the counter-attack. Chhangte who was running parallel to Greg on the right flank received the ball from the Scotsman in space and he broke into the box. He unleashed a powerful shot towards goal but was denied a goal by Kaith again who made another good save to make sure the scores stayed at 0-0.

The Mariners were finding it hard to get out of their half as the Islanders’ were successfully pressing them very high up the pitch. Mumbai City’s unrelenting pressure was making sure that chances were coming thick and fast for them. 

In the 29th minute, the Islanders took the lead through Chhangte, as they scored the first goal of the game. Greg Stewart, who shifted to the right wing was found by a smart ball in acres of space. 

The Scotsman played an accurate pass to Alberto Noguera who found himself on the edge of the box. He then squared the ball to Chhangte in the centre right outside the box. He unleashed a venomous shot that zipped past Vishal Kaith and nestled into the right bottom corner of the goal as the scores read 1-0 in favour of the Islanders.

The Islanders carved out another chance before the end of the first half in the 42nd minute of the game. Bipin received the ball on the left flank in space, he dribbled past the Mariners’ defender and broke into the box. He tried curling the ball into the top right corner from a tough angle but the ball went over the net.

From the restart, the Islanders started the second half in a similar fashion as the first half. They were passing the ball expertly while ATK Mohun Bagan was struggling to get on the ball. The Mariners slowly grew into the game. In the 58th minute, they carved out their first clear chance of the game. 

Asish Rai had made his way forward into the box and was found on the right side of the box by Petratos. He passed it to Boumous in space right in the centre of the box. The former Mumbai City player then unleashed a powerful first-time shot that Phurba acrobatically palmed away to make sure the scores stayed at 1-0 in favour of the Islanders.

Two former Goa midfielders battling it out in Kolkata

ATK Mohun Bagan was finally able to get into the passing groove as they were chasing the Islanders’ 1-0 lead. In the 66th minute, they got another chance as Petratos whipped in an accurate corner towards Carl McHugh. He leapt the highest and got his head to the ball. McHugh perfectly directed his header towards the right top corner but was saved by the fingertip of Phurba who stretched to make sure the ball did not go into the net. 

The scores still read 1-0 in favour of the Islanders but now Phurba was being forced into action and making saves. The Mariners were starting to dominate proceedings as the Mumbai City defense was being tested to the limit.

In the 77th minute, ATK Mohun Bagan got another chance to equalise. Petratos put in another dangerous corner that was missed by Lenny Rodrigues at the front post. Then the ball was flicked up in the air by Mehtab at the far post and landed at the feet of Boumous, who tried volleying the bouncing ball but failed to get an absolutely clean contact. His shot bounced off the ground and landed on top of the goal as the Mariners failed to capitalise. The scores still read 1-0 as ATK Mohun Bagan was desperately looking for that equaliser. 

Federico Gallego had an almost instant impact as he saw Phurba off his line in the 83rd minute and tried his luck from way outside the box from the right side.  Lachenpa showed his recovery pace as he back peddled to get back into a position to palm the ball over the crossbar to make sure the scores stayed at 1-0.

In the 89th minute of the game, Coach Buckingham made another substitution as he brought on Gurkirat Singh for Lallianzuala Chhangte. Ferrando responded with a substitution of his own as he brought on Fardin Alli Molla for Pritam Kotal as the Mariners looked to go down fighting.

Mumbai City carved out the final chance of the game however in added time at the end of the second half. A long ball found Bipin Singh on the left side of the field who drove into the box and unleashed a powerful shot. Hamill had tracked Bipin’s run and was able to get the block to deny the Islanders their second goal of the game and keep the Mariners in the game.

Soon after the referee blew the final whistle and called the game to an end. The game ended 1-0 in favour of the Islanders who had secured their 11th win of the season.