ISL 2018-19: Mumbai City FC 2-0 Delhi Dynamos, 5 talking points

After a humiliating defeat to FC Goa in their previous tie, Mumbai City FC heaved a sigh of relief with a 2-0 win over Delhi Dynamos in their Indian Super League match at the Mumbai Football Arena on Saturday (October 28).

The win saw them move to the fifth spot on the points table temporarily with seven points from five games, while the Dynamos stay put at eighth with three points from their five fixtures so far. And it was no surprise to see the Mumbai head coach Jorge Costa in a happy mood as he addressed the post-match press conference. “It is not easy (to bounce back after a huge defeat) and the boys are not giving up. When you lose 3-0, 4-0 it’s not easy to have your mind in the right place. But we did not give up. We showed today that we have a lot of character,” he said lauding his side for the win.

Mumbai might have shown a lot of character and hunger in their win over the Dynamos, but the match was not without its drawbacks, and if it were a side who’s a little more clinical in front of goal than what the Dynamos forwards were on the evening, the story would have been very different. Here’s a look at five talking points from the game.

#5 Misfiring forwards

Yes, the match saw two goals, and the 3,500-off spectators inside the Mumbai Football Arena were more than thankful for that. But the manner in which the game panned out, it looked like one would age a few years before either side could find the back of the net.

It all started with the 21-year-old Dynamos winger Lallianzuala Chhangte lofting in a delightful ball into the Mumbai penalty area hoping for his forwards to get anything on the ball. But it was not to be the case as Mumbai’s Lucian Goian was the first to the ball. However, even his headed clearance couldn’t thwart the danger as the ball looped and set up nicely for Romeo Fernandes on the far side. But even then, the Goa-born couldn’t make the most of the opportunity as his first-time volley flew right over the crossbar.

To put things into perspective, there were a total of 23 shots taken today by both the sides, of which 10 were on target, but the number of goals scored — just two.

#4 Normalcy restored

Saturday’s game also saw a few players return to their preferred position after being tried out in a make-shift role in the past.

For Mumbai City, defender Subhasish Bose was back in his left-back role, while for Dynamos Chhangte was seen hugging the touchline after being asked to drift in the past.

And the players responded well to these changes as Chhangte was livewire until he was taken out in around the 70-minute mark. And if not for his misfiring forwards, the Mizo lad would have returned to the capital city with an assist or two for the evening.

Subhashish, meanwhile, was immense in his defensive duties, keeping the likes of Romeo and an overlapping Vinit Rai in check throughout the game. The Bengal player also made encouraging runs forwards, but could barely muster anything from them as the attackers failed to read his moves time and again.

#3 Foreign baggage?

Foreign recruit usually tends to improve the quality of football played by a team in India. But for a large part of Saturday’s tie, the foreign contingent in the blue of Mumbai barely seemed to have a plan stepping on to the pitches. Yes, eventually it was the two imports Modou Sougou and Arnold Issoko who came up with the goods for their side, but if you are to keep the goals aside, the foreigners had an underwhelming night.

Sougou was isolated up front for the most part of the game, Issoko seemed to struggle against the Dynamos’ full-backs while Rafael Bastos and Paulo Machado were still seemed to figure out a way to find each other with their passes, and in pace when without the ball.

This could probably the difference when the Islanders line-up against a well-drilled outfit like that in NorthEast United FC, or a Bengaluru FC this season.

#2 Ravi makes a case for himself

If it was not for an injury that Amrinder Singh sustained in Goa, we wouldn’t even be thinking of who the second-choice goalkeeper at Mumbai City FC was. That’s the kind of service Amrinder has rendered to this club during his time.

But this UP-born player ensured that he was in top shape when called upon. From plucking the ball mid-air to avert a goalscoring chance to pulling off a string of wonder saves and closing the angle when the attacker closed in on goal, Ravi Kumar barely put a foot wrong on the evening. But is it enough for Amrinder to worry about his place in the side?

#1 Depleted bench strength

This is a problem that both the sides faced on Saturday. With the head coaches naming their best possible starting XI, the teams barely had anyone who could come off the bench and change the dynamics of the game.

While Mumbai tried their luck with the likes of Sanju Pradhan and Matias Mirabaje being thrown into the mix in the second half, Delhi relied on their attackers on the bench to change the course of the game in their favour. But neither of Daniel Lalhlimpuia, Adria Carmona or Bikramjit Singh could do much.

Edited by Kishan Prasad