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FC Goa recorded the biggest victory in the history of the Hero Indian Super League as they absolutely hammered FC Mumbai City 7-0 in match 39 of ISL 2015. Mumbai had no answer to the attacking masterclass on display from the home side as Goa ran riot at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Fatorda.
In what was the 100th encounter of the Indian Super League, FC Goa etched their name in the history books as they decimated an uninspired Mumbai side.
In a match which saw seven well-taken goals, Dudu and Thongkhosiem Haokip both notched up hattricks and Reinaldo added another late in the second half. What was more astonishing was Dudu managed to plunder a hat-trick in his first start of the season for the Goans.
With this monstrous victory, Zico’s men consolidate their position at the top of the points table with eighteen points from 10 games. They also boast of a more than healthy goal difference of 8. Meanwhile, Mumbai City FC, who endured a nightmare of a game tonight, sit in sixth place with 12 points from 10 matches.
First Half
FC Goa reverted to a back three as Zico’s men aimed to consolidate top spot in the league table. Mumbai City FC made two changes to their starting eleven with the blue citizens desperately looking to be in the fray for a semi-final spot. Billed as a Zico vs. Nico clash, it was an occasion that was coloured by an electric atmosphere and fanfare.
For some bizarre reason, Goa’s midfield general Leo Moura was given ample time on the ball by Mumbai. He made merry of the situation as he continued to spray the ball all around the park with military precision in the first half. The first real opportunity of the game went to the home side. They won a free kick from twenty yards out in the tenth minute.
Joffre’s left footed drive zipped around the Mumbai wall but was parried away expertly by the keeper, Subrata Pal. As much as the Gaurs imposed their personality and dominated possession, the away side did create a handful of goal scoring chances. You could attribute that to some clever off the ball movement by the Mumbai players. The likes of Sunil, Piquoinne, Anelka and Keegan, all created more than half chances but just couldn’t find the back of the net.
Goa almost took the lead and the source was again a dead ball situation. A free kick in the 26th minute by Moura from just outside the box was almost a carbon copy of Joffre’s free kick. The ball was driven in low and hard, but Subrata was at it again. He did well to deflect it away from the danger zone.
Haokip finally put the home side ahead in the 34th minute. His deft flick fell to Dudu who found himself one on one with the keeper. His shot was blocked and the resulting loose ball fell kindly to Goa’s number 12 as he slotted coolly into an empty net.
Nine minutes later, Goa went two goals ahead. Moura released Dudu with a slick through ball that split open the Mumbai defense. The striker did well to take a touch and his left-footed shot was placed into the bottom left corner. Subrata had no chance to save that one as FC Goa went into the break two goals to the good.\
Second Half
Goa continued the second half from where they left off. What Mumbai didn’t expect was a blitzkrieg from the home side. The Gaurs were relentless. Five minutes into the second half, the home side took an unassailable 3-0 lead and put to bed any chances Mumbai had to get back into the game. From the left wing, Jofre floated in a delicate yet dangerous looking ball into the penalty box. Haokip was at the end of it to guide it past Subrata Pal.
The composure that midfielder Jofre exhibited there was astonishing. He didn’t have time to bring the ball down with the full back at his heels. He knew exactly where Haokip was and in almost slow motion just flicked it into the box without taking a touch. Quite a few of the Mumbai City players were virtual passengers making almost no meaningful impact on the match.
The likes of Piquionne, Chhetri and Anelka were crowded out in the final third. This was down to Goa’s dominance in midfield as they bossed it with aplomb.
It was third time lucky for Goa from a dead ball situation as they extended their lead to four goals around the hour mark. Jofre delivered a high quality ball from the left which found Lúcio in the box. The Brazilian directed his header onto the goal but was denied by keeper, Subrata who did well to react quickly. But much to his dismay, his parried effort fell into the path of Dudu who stabbed it into the net.
Minutes later Dudu got his hat trick to make it 5-0. Moura was the architect this time as he was allowed to run right at the heart of Mumbai’s defense. After dancing through three players from the left wing, the Brazilian squared it off for the Nigerian who again kept his composure to slot it pass Subrata. Chances were definitely not at a premium as Goa broke sweetly on the counter.
Reinaldo marauded forward from the right and squared it off to Moura. The midfielder did well to open up his body and swerve the ball towards goal. His shot went inches above the cross bar.
FC Goa became the first team to score six goals in the ISL as Haokip showed Dudu he can get a hat trick too with an instinctive finish. Romeo drove right into the heart of Mumbai’s defense and let loose from distance. His shot was saved by Subrata but again fell right into Haokip’s path who slotted home the final goal of the match.
Subrata could have done better with that one as he parried the ball right into the forward’s path.
Reinaldo then completed the humiliation of the hapless visitors when he added a seventh goal in the 90th minute. He was assisted by the superlative Leo Moura.
The win all but ensures Goa a place in the final four as Zico’s men didn’t do any harm to their goal difference, slotting in seven goals with no reply.
