ISL 2018-19: Mumbai City FC 2-0 Chennaiyin FC - 5 Talking Points

#4 Attacking midfielders Arnold Issoko, Raynier Fernandes and Rafael Bastos combined well to cause trouble

Mumbai City FC's Arnold Issoko gives chase to the ball [Image: ISL]

The linkup play between the full-backs and the attacking midfielders was brilliant, to say the least. Since the visitors struggled with no provisional defensive midfielders, it was just a matter of how many times the midfield department consisting of Arnold Issoko, Raynier Fernandes and Rafael Bastos was going to run past the opposition's midfielders.

The attacking prowess showed by Raynier Fernandes to score the first goal, and Rafael Bastos' extraordinary run to setup Modou Sougou should have been convincing for Jorge Costa who looked animated near the touchline throughout the game. They came up against a dire midfield which looked flat and struggled to contribute offensively and defensively.

When Chennaiyin conceded the first goal, they pressed high up the pitch to retrieve the ball. But, they were totally undone by Mumbai City midfielders who kept on passing between them to burn them out. It was a game of two ends, but the hosts' midfielders won the battle which affected the result.