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Mumbai City FC extended their winning streak to three games as they hammered NorthEast United 5-1 thanks to a Sunil Chhetri hat-trick in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) clash at the Dr. D.Y. Patil stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday evening.
Nicolas Anelka made two changes to the starting line-up which triumphed over FC Goa in their last game as Frantz Bertin replaced Juan Aguilera and Subhash Singh came on for Gabriel Fernandes.
His opposite number Cesar Farias, on the other hand, made four changes to his side as he went back to a 4-2-3-1 formation. Marquee player Simoa, Silas, Nicolas Velez and Boithang Haokip came into the starting eleven with Robin Gurung, Herrero, Dadzie and Kamara dropping out.
First Half
The visitors made a brighter start to proceedings, quickly gaining control of the ball possession in the opening five minutes of the game. The Highlanders almost made the most of the quick start and should have been in front in the 10th minute when Nicolas Velez was picked out by after Subrata Pal had tipped away the first attempt in his path, but Velez blazed at the ball on the half-volley and fired wide.
The visitors continued to have the better of the game until the 23rd minute when Chhetri capitalized on some sloppy play from the visitors in the midfield to release Subhash Singh on the flanks. Subhash’s cross from the right was handled by Lopez inside the box as referee David Gantar had no problems in pointing to the spot.
Mumbai City’s top scorer stepped up to send a coolly chipped penalty past Rehenesh who went the wrong way to Put Mumbai City ahead. But unfortunately for the home fans, their joy didn’t last long as NothEast United who had the better of the game prior to going behind equalized in the 28th minute through Boithang Haokip, who squeezed a free kick on the right in at the near post.
Haokip’s rather flat effort caught the Mumbai City FC defense cold as NorthEast United earned a deserved equalizer. Like NorthEast, Mumbai City’s response to being pegged back was a good one and they almost snatched the lead back when Frederic Piquionne rose the highest only to send his header over the crossbar.
Pavel Cmovs who was having an inspired afternoon for Nicolas Anelka’s team once again threw his body on the line to clear a zipped cross from Velez who had eased a pass to release Ashutosh Mehta into space. Three minutes later, Cmovs hit the crossbar at the other end after NorthEast United failed to clear a corner and almost paid the price for it as Cmovs fired a loose ball onto the crossbar.
However two minutes later, Mumbai City FC regained the lead through Sunil Chhetri who was served with a tap-in at the far post, thanks to Subhash Singh who cushioned a Sony Norde cross from the right flank into Chhetri’s path.
Mumbai City went into the break with the advantage despite having less of the game in the first half.
Second Half
Mumbai City FC came out all guns blazing in the second half and yet another handball in the box, this time by Andre Bikey gave Sunil Chhetri a chance to complete his hat-trick. The Indian International fired in an excellent penalty past Rehenesh who had guessed correctly. Chhetri’s hat-trick was the first in the ISL by an Indian player and the one which put Mumbai City FC firmly in the driver’s seat, so early in the second half.
The lead though got bigger and better for the hosts in the 51st minute, as yet another case of sloppy passing from NorthEast United, saw them give the ball away to substitute Aguilera who picked out Sony Norde with a neat threaded pass. The Haitian beat the offside trap to coolly slot home past Rehenesh and put the Mumbaikars in dreamland.
NorthEast United were completely rattled and had lost their composure and once again gave the ball away in the middle of the park, this time to Subhash Singh who slid in a through pass to Sunil Chhetri who was unfortunate not to have scored a fourth goal when his effort went out off the crossbar.
The visitors weathered the early second-half storm and gained some control post the hour mark, but had little joy while trying to break down a determined Mumbai City FC rearguard. On the other hand, Mumbai City FC were looking threatening on the break and Frederic Piquionne twice had the chance to add a fifth goal for the hosts, but failed to make the most of his chances.
Sunil Chhetri was once again denied his fourth goal of the night in the 85th minute after Chhetri was picked out by a brilliant diagonal ball from Debnath, but Rehenesh made himself big and pulled off a save from the Indian International. However from the resulting corner Mumbai City FC scored their fifth goal as Frantz Bertiz was allowed to head home from close range.
As superb second half showing from Nicolas Anelka’s men saw them collect yet another three points and the emphatic nature of their win lifted them to second position in the table behind local rivals FC Pune City.
Mumbai City FC now face Champions Atletico de Kolkata at the D.Y. Patil stadium on Sunday and will be looking to stake a strong claim for their crown.
