Mumbai City’s winless run continues as NorthEast United restrict them to a 1-1 draw
Mumbai City’s winless run continued as they were held to a 1-1 draw by NorthEast United in ‘Match ‘71’ of the 2021-22 Indian Super League season. Ahmed Jahouh’s controversial penalty opened the scoring for the Islanders, whilst Mohammed Irshad’s strike helped the Highlanders rescue a point.
Mumbai City head coach Des Buckingham made a solitary change to his starting XI as Jahouh walked into the starting eleven in place of Vinit Rai.
On the contrary, NorthEast United head coach Khalid Jamil made three tweaks. New signings Marcelinho, Marco Sahanek, and defender Zakaria Diallo featured in the starting XI at the expense of Laldanmawia Ralte, Mohammed Irshad, and Patrick Flottmann respectively.
Buckingham’s men were quick to get off the blocks as they marauded the Highlanders’ defense with persistent attacks. They almost took the lead in the 13th minute when Mehtab Singh’s clever long ball reached Vikram Pratap Singh in the penalty area, but the youngster’s header sailed over the crossbar.
Only three minutes later, Vikram got another opportunity from a Jahouh freekick but for the second time on the night, he could not keep his header on target. Mumbai City continued their barrage as Mourtada Fall’s thumping attempt forced a great save from NorthEast United custodian Subhasish Roy Chowdhury in the 19th minute.
At the half-hour mark, Cassinho found Vikram in a dangerous position with a long ball but before he could get his shot away, Mashoor Shereef turned on the afterburners to reach the ball. Though referee A. Rowan handed the Islanders a penalty for Shereef’s tussle with Vikram, replays showed the defender winning the ball first. Ahmed Jahouh stepped up to take the spot-kick and thumped it past Subhasish on the left corner, handing his team a very important lead.
The reigning champions could have doubled their lead only three minutes later when Cassinho tried testing Subhasish with a powerful effort, but the Indian custodian came up with a great save to keep the Highlanders in the game.
Jamil’s men came fully rejuvenated in the second half and the first big chance fell to Gurjinder Kumar in the 49th minute, but he failed to head home a cross whipped in from the left flank.
Seven minutes later, VP Suhair came agonizingly close to restoring parity when he attempted an audacious lob to catch Mumbai City goalkeeper Mohammad Nawaz off-guard, but his shot struck the post and stayed out.
Luck was not in the Highlanders’ favor as only a couple of minutes later, Marcelinho glided past two Mumbai City defenders before curling in a fantastic shot, only to be denied yet again by the woodwork.
Mohammed Irshad scored the equalizer for NorthEast United
In the 66th minute, Hernan Santana came up with a wonderful long-range freekick, but Nawaz’s equally brilliant save helped the Islanders maintain their lead. NorthEast United was eventually rewarded for their persistent attacks in the 79th minute when Santana received the second ball from a corner and played it straight to substitute Irshad, who slammed his shot past Nawaz to restore parity.
In the dying moments of the game, Subhasish came up with a stunning point-blank save to keep Cassinho’s effort out. However, the drama did not end there as in the 90th minute, Amey Ranawade received a second yellow card for trying to stop a counter illegally.
The Highlanders remain in the tenth position with this draw and will now face Hyderabad on Monday while the fourth-placed Mumbai City will take on ATK Mohun Bagan next Thursday.