Mumbai FC Shock Mohun Bagan

The I-League has seen it’s first upset in the second day as newcomers Mumbai FC shocked Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan 2-1 at the Barasat Stadium, Kolkata and thus win their first ever game in the top division.


Mumbai FC have surprised everyone with their performance and the chinks in the Mohun Bagan defence are now apparent. The second division winners played out of their skin as they took the game to Mohun Bagan right from the start.

Whoever said that Cooperage wasn't fit to host the I-League games needs to visit the Barasat Stadium or at least switch on their television sets. Damp ground with the ball being held, reminded sights of the Gachibowli Stadium during the recent AFC Challenge Cup. The pitch was heavy and surely hosting two games in successive days on this stadium looks questionable to say the least.

The Mumbai FC strike force – Abel Hammond and Felix Aboagye troubled the Green and Maroon and the Kolkata team’s back four had no clue as to what had struck them. Bagan defence was in sixes and seven’s as they struggled at every attack by the opposition.

Bhaichung Bhutia almost scored on receiving Ishfaq Ahmed’s cross from the left but his shot went wide in the fourth minute.

Felix Aboagye did some good work and Abel Hammond scored the first of the night for Mumbai FC in the ninth minute. Mumbai FC’s bench were seen cheering while Bagan looked clueless.

The Ghanaian strikers terrorized Bagan and their brilliant coordination looked like they have been playing together since ages. Felix struck a shot which was saved by a limping Shilton Paul. The 20th minute saw Baretto’s header finding Bhaichung in some space inside the box but the latter took time and found his foot stuck before the defenders cleared the danger.

Four minutes later, Kulothungan scored off a fine move initiated by the strikers with Hammond sending in a fine ball for the former to score with a diving header.

Mumbai FC goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey saved his side with his fingers as Baretto’s shot was almost on its way into the goal.

Baretto, on two occasions, could have scored but the damp ground conditions didn’t help as on both occasions he slipped. Felix Aboagye could have rubbed more misery on Bagan after Aseem was allowed to run unchallenged into the box.

Ishfaq Ahmed came close as he cut inside Anas and his final shot was stopped by the mud much to the pleasure of Kalyan Chaubey. James and Bhaichung had another chance at the stroke of half time but the final header by the latter went wide.

The second half saw the Green and Maroon come out stronger and had a good first 10 minutes following which they once again seemed to have lost their way.

Bagan were lucky as they didn’t concede a penalty when Deepak Mondal tackled Abel Hammond inside the box but the referee missed it. Rakesh Masih came close to scoring off a flagkick. Bagan coach Karim Bencherifa had played all his cards with his three substitutions by the 64th minute.

Substitute Lalwampuia, who was in good touch in the Kolkata League, pulled one back for his side in the 77th minute after he foxed two defenders to unleash a killer left footed shot. The Kolkata giants threw all their men upfront and could have added another when Bhaichung headed wide off a Mohanraj cross.

Just three minutes from time, Bagan were unlucky not to have restored parity in the game as Bhaichung’s ball hit the inside of the post and didn’t go in. This was after Monhanraj’s ball found Baretto who laid for the Indian skipper.

In the 90th minute, Riston’s freekick was headed towards Hammond by Abhishek Yadav but Bagan custodian Shilton Paul did well to collect it.

For Mohun Bagan, it was a disappointing evening and they need to go back into their training session and sort out the defence. The absence of third foreigner showed and the inclusion of Marcos Pereira for the next game would the necessary teeth into their attack.

Mumbai FC have every reason to celebrate as they won their opening game and showed their class. Their strikeforce of Felix and Hammond shall surely be the one to be feared in the league and the brilliance with which they played together as a unit, which was absent in their opposition, is a sign of good things to come.

Final Score: 2-1.

Goalscorers Mumbai FC: Abel Hammond (9th) and Kulothungan (24th)

Goalscorer Bagan: Lalwampuia (77th)

Source:Goal.com