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Post their disappointing loss to Bengaluru FC in their first outing, Mumbai City FC bounced back in style and registered a 2-1 victory over FC Goa in Sunday's ISL match up.
Midfielder Everton Santos put the hosts ahead after Goa's keeper, Kattimani made a school-boy error to gift the home side an early lead.
The visitors fought back and scored the perfect team goal which was rounded off by Manuel Rodriguez in the 83rd minute. However, Kattimani once again gifted Mumbai a late winner as he let substitute, Thiago's shot slip between his legs.
Goa were by far the better side but they were vulnerable at the back and paid the price. Mumbai though started off slowly but eventually got into their stride. Mumbai's coach, Alexandre Guimarães reckons such matches are really important for the promotion of the league.
"We showed a totally different face of what Mumbai are capable of. We fought very hard to get the win. It was a tough game but this is the type of game that the ISL needs for the promotion of football in India," said Guimaraes.
"Such games stimulate the mind, I am very satisfied. I am also very proud of my players. They never lost the faith because it is very hard to take a draw in the last minute. We got up again and fought," the coach added.
Mumbai's second-half performance was the polar opposite of their first. In the second half, the home side pressed high up the pitch and did not let Goa settle on the ball.
At times, Mumbai were pedestrian in the opening half but it completely changed later on. The coach revealed his halftime talk which led to the transformation. All three goals of the game came in the second half.
"Second half, we were more compact, in the first half when we tried to press, we were not synchronised so Goa's players found it easy to pass the ball. We closed down the spaces and the team improved after that," he said.
"I told the players we still have 45 minutes left to play, I told them to go for it and be more aggressive and they did it," he signed off.
