Having registered their first ISL-2 win after beating Delhi Dynamos 2-0, Mumbai City FC's assistant coach Oscar Bruzon urges his side to not get carried away
Mumbai City FC's Sunil Chhetri surges ahead of a Delhi Dynamos player during the Indian Super League match at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai yesterday
Mumbai City FC won their first match of the second edition of the Indian Super League after beating Delhi Dynamos 2-0 at Navi Mumbai's DY Patil Stadium yesterday.
Mumbai City FC's Sunil Chhetri surges ahead of a Delhi Dynamos player during the Indian Super League match at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai yesterday. Pic/PTI
Mumbai, who were at the bottom of the table before the match with just one goal and no wins from three matches, got both their goals from India captain Sunil Chhetri. On Thursday, assistant coach Oscar Bruzon had said, "It's an alarming situation, an emergency situation. Tomorrow we need to get back on track."
And back on track Mumbai got in some style, much to the jubilation of the sparsely-populated stadium. Mumbai replaced striker Frederic Piquionne with Sony Norde on top with Chhetri playing right behind him and it was the duo's dazzling interplay that was the highlight of the match for the hosts, accounting for both goals.
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After the game, Delhi's marquee player-cum-manager, Roberto Carlos admitted that Mumbai were the better side. "They were in a very hard position. We needed their motivation to win today. I'm not surprised by the result as they played better and deserved to win," the Brazilian said.
Meanwhile, Bruzon, putting the win in perspective, said, "The win is nothing. It's just one win in four games. We have more home games, so it is time to demonstrate and not talk." Asked about his players picking up seven yellow cards yesterday, the Spaniard said: "In training, we spoke about the need to fight, fight and fight. And yesterday, they fought and won. Our players were committed to the task and were aware of the emergency level."
After a slow start, the match burst into life in the 13th minute when Mumbai took the lead with a little bit of luck. Chhetri started the move by feeding Norde with a pass from the halfline. The Haitian received the ball on the left before cutting in to the centre and shooting from the edge of the box. His shot ricocheted off Anas Edathodika before falling kindly in front of Chhetri, who placed it to the bottom left corner.
Two minutes later, Chhetri's India strike partner Robin Singh got a golden opportunity to equalise for Dynamos but his shot from inside the box hit the side netting.
Norde almost scored at the other end in the 20th minute as his audacious freekick from the left touchline almost curled into the far top corner of the Delhi goal. Only a last-second fingertip save from goalkeeper Antonio Santana kept Mumbai from doubling their lead.
Mumbai's inspired forwardline kept attacking with the visitors barely managing to hang on. In the 28th minute, Mumbai's Gabriel Fernandes threaded a piercing through ball for Norde, whose cross found Subash Singh. However, the forward's volley was off the target.
Two minutes later, Flourent Malouda, easily Delhi's player of the match, had the visitors' best chance of the game. Mumbai defender Pavel Cmovs fluffed his lines to miss a clearance to allow Malouda through on goal. With just the goalkeeper to beat, the Frenchman shot straight at Subrata Paul.
Norde had a gilt-edged opportunity in the 31st minute, when he was through on goal. But, with only the 'keeper to beat, Norde missed the target. At the other end, Hans Mulder and Anderson Chicago had off target shots. In the second half, Mumbai started brightly. But their first real chance to double their lead came in the 66th minute when Subash's cracker of a shot hit the crossbar.
Four minutes later, Chhetri chipped the ball over the Delhi defence for Norde, who bright it down effortlessly but his shot was saved by Doblas. Mumbai finally got their second in the 74th minute when Norde beat a defender in the box before cutting back to Chhetri, who had an easy tap-in. Thanks to the win, Mumbai, who take on FC Goa on Sunday, went up one place in the standings to seventh while Delhi maintain their second spot.
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