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Mumbai City FC beat Delhi Dynamos 4-2 in yet another six-goal thriller between the two sides. It was the first time that the Islanders ran out winners at the Delhi-based team's home ground in the history of the Indian Super League.
The Lions started out strong as they scored an early goal in the third minute. Lallianzuala Chhangte's cross-shot was deflected in the back of his own goal by Souvik Chakraborty. The away side pulled one goal back at the start of the second half via a Rafael Bastos penalty.
At the hour mark, Crespi scored an own goal but his teammate Gianni Zuiverloon pegged one back for the home side three minutes later.
Five minutes later, Raynier Fernandes scored the goal that put Jorge Costa's men back in the lead. Paulo Machado scored another one from close range in the 80th minute to settle the match in the away side's favour.
With three points in bag, Mumbai City FC now comfortably sit in the top four while Delhi Dynamos still lie at the bottom of the table.
Let's look at the five talking points from the match.
#5 Lallianzuala Chhangte- Prospect for the national team?
Lallianzuala Chhangte has been a part of a sudden outburst of young talent all over the country. The Mizoram-born winger represented NorthEast United in the third season of the ISL but managed only one appearance for the Highlanders.
The 21-year old winger was picked up by Delhi Dynamos before the start of last season and has become an integral part of the side since joining them.
Chhangte opened the scoring for the Delhi-based side in the third minute as his cross-shot was deflected in the back of the net. Minutes later, his cross sailed over the goalkeeper and narrowly missed ending up as another goal. He showed that he can use both feet when his cross from the right side fell straight to Nandhakumar Sekar who skied his effort.
If he consistently keeps performing at this level, he could become a mainstay in the Indian national team.
#4 The error-prone Pritam Kotal
Pritam Kotal has turned out for big clubs including Mohun Bagan, Pune City FC and ATK in his short career. He has slowly and steadily established himself as the first choice right back in the Indian national team during that time period.
The 25-year old right back had a dismal 2017-18 season with his new club, Delhi Dynamos. If he was at any other club in the ISL, he could have dropped to the bench but Kotal was given the captain armband.
In the game against Mumbai City FC, Delhi were leading at halftime and were looking on course to another victory at home to the Islanders. But, Kotal stuck out a hand and conceded a needless penalty early in the first half which was converted by Bastos.
The equalizer proved to be a catalyst in Mumbai's comeback win.
#3 A comedy goal conceded by Delhi Dynamos
Delhi Dynamos had a good first half where they scored an early goal and despite conceding an early second half goal, the match was still in the balance at 1-1 till the hour mark.
In the 60th minute, the away side was trying to put pressure on Josep Gombau's men with back to back corners. Mumbai took a short corner and Bastos was just shielding the ball, trying to create an angle to cross.
Narayan Das who was within 2 yards of him, didn't even try to tackle him or his block his inevitable cross into the box which found the head of Crespi and looped over Albino Gomes's head into the goal.
#2 Paulo Machado leading from the front
Paulo Machado was involved in all three goals scored by the away side from open play. The Mumbai City skipper shielded the ball from Narayan Das without any effort and saw his cross headed in by Crespi into his own net.
For the third goal, the Portuguese midfielder broke the offside trap and crossed with his left foot to find Fernandes who scored the third goal for the away side.
The 32-year old was on hand to convert an Issoko Arnold cross as his tap in found the back of the net and sealed the win for his side.
#1 Another refereeing howler in the ISL
After the shoddy defending, Delhi Dynamos were trailing 2-1 with about half an hour to go in the match.
Rene Mihelic found himself on the right hand side with no teammate in the penalty box to cross to. The Slovenian held on to the ball and then appeared to dive 2 yards away from the assistant referee but earned a freekick nonetheless. His freekick was converted by Zuiverloon as Delhi were level again in the match.
While the goal eventually counted for nothing due to Machado's heroics but the referees have been committing these horrible mistakes time and again in the Indian Super League. Maybe, it is time to introduce some technology to help referees in the Indian football scene.
