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Mumbai City managed to grab a lifeline in the dying moments of the game to keep their season alive as they scored in stoppage time to emerge 3-2 winners over NorthEast United at the Mumbai Football Arena.
With their season on the line, Mumbai City trailed 1-2 at half-time but gave it their all in the second half in an attempt to stay alive in the race for the playoffs. Eventually, they were able to make the pressure count and grab the win. Mumbai are now on 23 points, one behind Kerala Blasters with both sides having two more games to play.
Here's what stood out from the game:
#1 Achille Emana gets one to go
The former Cameroon international, Achille Emana, has donned the No. 10 role for Mumbai City this season. Goal creation, as well as goal scoring, are basic requirements out of a No. 10 for any side. And so far, while Emana had four assists to his name, he had scored only twice, both from penalties.
His shooting, in particular, has been wayward. He has taken a fair few shots on goal through the season, but with very few of them actually being on target. Today though, his shot was on target; a quick turn to get the better of his defender and a well-placed shot from outside the box saw Mumbai City take the lead in the 15th minute.
It was Emana's first goal from open play.
#2 The Mumbai defence is all over the place
Despite taking an early lead, Mumbai City went into half-time trailing 1-2 to NorthEast United and they have no one to blame, but themselves, for that reverse in fortunes for they were completely out of sync on defence.
NorthEast's equaliser came from a set-piece; having conceded the free-kick down NorthEast's left flank, the Mumbai defence failed to get organized in time as the visitors took advantage by quickly getting the ball into the box. With Mumbai scrambling to deal with the danger, Gursimrat Singh's effort found it's way into the back of the net.
As if that wasn't bad enough, they did it again from a corner in the 43rd minute to allow Sambinha an uncontested header which he powered past Amrinder Singh in goal to give NorthEast the lead.
Mumbai have now conceded the fourth-highest number of goals this season and that has been a big reason why they've found themselves outside top-four contention.
#3 TP Rehenesh on guard for NorthEast
NorthEast could have faced a bigger deficit to erase in the first half if not for their keeper TP Rehenesh. He made two excellent saves, first from an Everton Santos shot where the Brazilian tried to curl one into Rehenesh's left corner and the second from a Marcio Rozario free-kick.
Rehenesh is good diving to his left and both of these saves saw him leave his feet and jump full length to the left to keep out Mumbai City.
He was called into action once again in the 87th minute to deny Leo Costa's effort from a free-kick as Mumbai City went in search of a winner. He's been one of the more consistent performers for the Highlanders this season.
#4 Lucian Goian returns for Mumbai City, scores winning goal
Captain of Mumbai City, Lucian Goian, has had a long spell on the sidelines due to injury this season. He was one of their standout performers last season. He came back into the starting XI for the first time in five games today and he made a telling contribution today, at the other end of the pitch though.
It was Goian who was furthest forward to apply the finish to Raju Gaikwad's cross into the box in stoppage time to keep his team's semifinal hopes alive, just.
It was a huge goal, considering the circumstances, Mumbai City with absolutely no margin for error, needing to win all of their remaining games to stand a chance.
Defensively, he looked rusty and a bit off the pace. He was even culpable for both NorthEast goals, as he was out of position, but he made up for it with a goal right at the end. It sparked an amazing celebration from his son in the stands which was quite memorable in itself.
#5 NorthEast are now winless in seven
They led 2-1 at half-time, but NorthEast United ended up losing the game 2-3 right at the end. As a result, their winless run is now up to seven.
NorthEast seem to have forgotten how to win a game. Initially, after Joao de Deus was sacked and Avram Grant came in, they flickered into life and got results to go their way. But in this final run of games, they have not showcased the same ability. Their games have been open and high-scoring, but they just haven't been able to put teams away.
They have one of the leakiest defences in the league. Nirmal Chettri had another standout game in terms of poor defending. He was bundled over so easily by Everton Santos for Mumbai's second and for Goian's winner, NorthEast had a 3-on-1 advantage in terms of numbers in the box, but neither of them could clear the ball. Had Chettri cleared the ball in before it reached Goian, NorthEast would have got a point from this game.
