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Mumbai City FC were made to work hard for their 2-1 victory over ATK in Sunday's ISL fixture. Goals by Marcio Rozario and Rafa Jorda were sandwiched by a well-taken equaliser from Bipin Singh for ATK.
The visitors held on for a crucial victory and in doing so, kept their hopes for a spot in the final four, very much alive.
With 20 points from 15 games, Mumbai have three crunch fixtures and will need to win all of those to stand a chance of entering the playoff. Here are the talking points from tonight's game.
#1 Out of form ATK begin on a positive note
With practically nothing to play for, the home side came into this match far less nervous than Mumbai City FC, who are still desperately trying to keep their playoff hopes alive. ATK started the match on a positive note and did not take much time to settle in.
The likes of Jayesh Rane and Martin Paterson were at it from minute one, pegging back Mumbai's defenders deep into their own half. ATK won a couple of free-kicks in the opening minutes and showed some creativity, taking the visitors by surprise.
Currently third from the bottom, Westwood's men surely did not look like a bottom-placed team. Tonight they meant business from minute one and played for pride more than anything else.
#2 Alexandre Guimaraes surprises with line up
Realising that nothing less than a win would help them, Mumbai City FC coach, Alexandre Guimaraes surprised everyone with his starting 11 tonight.
After pinning his hopes on Balwant Singh and being disappointed time after time, he finally decided to bench the forward and decided to play the match with an out and out striker.
Thiago Santos who has been impressive at large but struggling for form in recent times was also reduced to the bench. Rafa Jorda started tonight despite not being in the thick of things this season.
Mumbai needed to switch things up as they were getting far too predictable. The coach took the risk and it paid off, even benching his captain, Lucian Goian.
#3 Marcio Rozario scores sublime free-kick for Mumbai
Truth-be-told, Mumbai City FC were unimpressive from open play in the first half. The players lacked ideas and tried hard but to no avail. At the other end, ATK were equally timid in the final third.
With no side giving in, up stepped, Marcio Rozario. Mumbai's centre-back had big shoes to fill in tonight. After all he had replaced his side's captain, Goian in the starting line up. The Brazilian centre-back scored a powerful and sublime free kick to give his side the lead.
Despite placing it at the goalkeeper's near post, Soram Poirei could not stop the bullet shot which had power and accuracy. ATK's keeper did manage to get a hand on it but that free kick was reminiscent of Roberto Carlos. Classy stuff.
#4 Two early second half goals throw the game wide open
After a fairly cagey first half during which both teams lacked decisiveness and looked nervous at times, Mumbai and ATK came out all guns blazing for the second forty five minutes.
ATK's Bipin Singh scored inside the first two minutes courtesy a sublime through ball from Conor Thomas. Mumbai could have easily crumbled from there on but they replied instantly, taking the lead, as Rafa repaid the faith of his coach by scoring a well taken header from a corner. Sanju Pradhan delivered an inch perfect cross.
The two early goals in the second half threw the game wide open. What was initially a cagey affair turned upside down as both teams consistently traded punches for the rest of the game.
#5 Mumbai hold on for dear life and stay alive
It wasn't easy, far from it. Mumbai headed into today's encounter knowing that anything other than a win would kill their dreams. Alexandre's men dug deep and were ultimately rewarded for playing some intelligent football against ATK.
It wasn't a pretty affair, both of Mumbai's goals came from set pieces. The visitors struggled to create openings from open play and the coach will be keen to look into this before they clash against NEUFC on home soil.
As far as ATK are concerned, their poor form continues and they continue to languish in the bottom half of the table. They didn't play badly tonight but their defence failed to hold under pressure.
