Mumbai City seal convincing 4-2 win against Jamshedpur
Mumbai City extended their lead at the top of the 2021-22 Indian Super League table as they beat Jamshedpur 4-2 at the Fatorda Stadium. Cassio Gabriel, Igor Angulo, Bipin Singh, and Ygor Catatau scored the goals for Mumbai City while Komal Thatal and Eli Sabia were the scorers for Jamshedpur.
Mumbai City head coach Des Buckingham made a solitary change to his starting XI as Raynier Fernandes came in for the young Vikram Pratap Singh. On the other hand, Jamshedpur head coach Owen Coyle made a couple of changes as he handed Ishan Pandita his first start of the season along with Alex Lima returning to the Red Miners starting line-up.
Mumbai City opened the scoring in the third minute when Cassinho ball into the penalty area went past everybody in the Jamshedpur box including Igor Angulo. The ball found the back of the net after deceiving the Jamshedpur goalkeeper with his floated delivery to make it 1-0.
Jamshedpur tried to hit back instantly when Greg Stewart went for goal on a counter-attack but Mohammad Nawaz made a routine save for his side.
Owen Coyle’s side kept their heads high and created chances throughout the next few minutes including a Komal Thatal free-kick from a tight angle but failed to equalize on the evening.
However, Mumbai City made it 2-0 as Cassinho outmuscled Eli Sabia while chasing a brilliant long-range pass by Mourtada Fall on the right-wing before finding an unmarked Bipin Singh on the far side of the Jamshedpur box and Singh doubled Mumbai City’s advantage within 17 minutes of play with a simple tap-in.
It was the Brazilian playmaker once again who turned the creator for Mumbai City’s third goal as Cassinho found Igor Angulo unmarked inside the Jamshedpur box who made a twist and a turn before smashing the ball past TP Rehenesh in the 24th minute.
Angulo had the opportunity to make it 4-0 before half-time but he was slow in setting himself up for the shot after playing out wide by Cassio Gabriel as the Islanders went in with a formidable 3-0 lead at the break.
Komal Thatal scored the first goal for Jamshedpur
Less than three minutes into the second half, Komal Thatal put Jamshedpur back into the contest as he reduced the deficit to 3-1 in the 48th minute scoring a stunning goal from the outside of his right foot. The youngster was played out wide on the edge of the Mumbai City box by Greg Stewart and found a deflection off Bipin Singh to send Nawaz the wrong way.
Jamshedpur continued to press the Mumbai City midfield in the next few minutes and Coyle’s men scored their second of the game to make it 2-3 in the 54th minute. Ricky Lallawmawma had swung in a hopeful ball into the Mumbai City box which allowed Ishan Pandita to rattle the goal post with a shot that eventually fell to Eli Sabia who headed it into the back of the net.
The Red Miners maintained a very high defense for the next few minutes in hopes of getting the equalizer. However, Mumbai City almost scored their fourth when substitute Vikram Pratap Singh was through on goal with just Rehenesh to beat. The Jamshedpur goalkeeper came off his line and denied Singh in spectacular fashion.
Nerijus Valskis and Ygor Catatau came off the bench for their respective sides after the hour-mark in hopes of scoring the decisive goal of the night but it was the Islanders loanee who scored his 3rd goal of the season despite making only 5 substitute appearances so far.
Catatau banged in an impossible goal from the tightest of angles after he connected a half-volleyed strike to a long ball putting the game to bed as the Mumbai-based team went ahead 4-2 in the 70th minute.
Lima had a shot saved at goal by Mohammad Nawaz in the 84th minute as Mumbai City managed to close the game out and register a 4-2 win extending their lead at the top of the table whilst Jamshedpur stayed second with only 8 points, four points lesser than the Islanders.
The league leaders will now play against Chennaiyin on Wednesday while Jamshedpur faces Odisha on Tuesday.