Atlético de Kolkata mounted a splendid comeback against Mumbai City FC in the first leg of the Indian Super League semi-final. Having gone down 2-1, a brace from Ian Hume ensured they head to Mumbai with a 3-2 lead.
All five goals were scored in what was an exhilarating first 45 minutes.
#1 Amrinder Singh’s error opened the flood gates
Mumbai City FC’s goalkeeper can have no excuses for making such a careless mistake on such a crucial night. His blunder opened the floodgates, in a crazy 45 minutes that no one expected.
Borja’s low cross from the left flank, fell unexpectedly onto Lalrindika Ralte’s head which the midfielder cleverly flicked it over the Mumbai’s players including Amrinder who was caught off guard as the ball looped over his head, into the net. He managed to get a hand on the ball but couldn’t get it under control. Given the circumstances, the Mumbai City FC goalkeeper clearly should have done better as he attempted to parry the ball over the crossbar.
While he did make some decent saves following that, the unfortunate truth is that he undid almost all of Mumbai’s great attacking display.
#2 Crazy first half at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium
Heading into today’s match, there wasn’t the slightest indication from either coach that they’d go for the kill. “First half of a 180-minute game,” is how Atletico’s coach, José Molina described the first leg prior to the game. Both sides displayed an intent to attack from the get go; an extremely refreshing sight.
Mumbai came into this match having conceded no goals in their previous four matches but they approached this game like no other. Not for a moment did the men in blue sit back; very unlike Alexandre Guimaraes’ side, who are generally compact and pragmatic in their approach.
The first half saw five goals scored between the two sides in what was, hands down, the craziest forty-five minutes of this season’s Indian Super League. Mumbai and Kolkata played the first 45-minutes like the final 10-minutes of a final.
#3 Alexandre Guimaraes executes another masterstroke
“We have always stuck together in good times and in bad,” Mumbai’s coach was spot on in his assessment of his side’s performance so far this season. The Costa Rican is somewhat of a super hero to the fans of Mumbai. After all, he guided them to their first ever semi-final in three attempts.
On more than one occasion, he’s made questionable changes to his first eleven but they’ve always proved to be instrumental. A couple of weeks back, he decided to introduce Cafu instead of Sony Norde against Kerala; Mumbai went on to thump them 5-0.
Tonight, he surprisingly decided to bench Defederico and brought in Leo Costa instead. It paid instant dividends as the Brazilian scored a crucial goal to ensure his side have something to play for in the second leg. Guimaraes is the poised presence on the sidelines that Mumbai desperately needed.
#4 Uninspiring defending by Kolkata from set pieces
There’s no argument that both of Diego Forlan’s deliveries, had quality written all over it. But the fact is, the home side could have dealt with Mumbai’s set pieces much more effectively. The men in blue scored both their goals from free kicks.
The first one was scored as a result of Kolkata’s indecisiveness inside the box. Forlan’s pacy cross found Chhetri but he failed to get any kind of real contact on the ball. The resulting lose ball fell to Leo Costa, who had a clear sight at goal and did well to place the ball past the keeper’s far post. Kolkata’s defenders were caught ball watching.
Forlan then mirrored his first free-kick, whipping in another delightful ball into the box. This time, Atletico failed to mark one of Mumbai’s tallest players, defender, Gerson Vieira. The Brazilian got himself into a great position and powerfully headed the ball, from close range, to score his first goal of the competition.
#5 Diego Forlan fails to keep calm
The last person you’d have expected to be sent off tonight was Diego Forlan. Rarely has the Uruguayan displayed his emotions on the field. But tonight, frustration got the better of him as he received his marching orders in the 74th minute. He was initially booked for an off the ball tackle on Sereno.
Sereno stopped him from making a dangerous run into the box and the forward was incensed by his cynical block. His moment of madness arrived out of the blue. Jewel Raja cleverly stole the ball from him and in a fit of rage he lashed out at the midfielder. The referee had no option but to send him off.
Forlan has been crucial in Mumbai’s march to the play-offs. His absence in the second leg means that, once again, Alexandre Guimaraes will need to put on his thinking hat and reorganise his side
