Mumbai City upstaged at home by Jamshedpur
MUMBAI: Jamshedpur FC’S Spanish contingent put Jorge Costa’s Mumbai City FC to the sword with an emphatic 2-0 victory at the Mumbai Football Arena on Tuesday. Playing without star teammate Tim Cahill, who is unavailable owing to a suspension picked up during his brief stint with Millwall FC last season, Jamshedpur’s Carlos Calvo and Mario Arques combined in the first half with the latter scoring a header before Sergio Cidoncha set-up compatriot Pablo Morgado in second half injury time to signal a winning start for Jamshedpur FC’S new Spanish manager Cesar Ferrando.
After a feisty start, Jamshedpur settled down nicely. Jerry Mawhmingthanga, who had made his ISL debut against Mumbai City last season, began to run down the left-flank with uninhibited ease and put the home team on the back foot.
Mumbai City’s vulnerability on the flanks was finally punished when Arques’ attempted cross found Calvo on the opposite flank. Former Granada man Calvo spotted Arques’ run to the far post and delivered a pin-point cross for the latter to guide into the top far corner.
The home team could have pulled back when Sanju Pradhan sent Rafael Bastos through on goal, but the Brazilian took too long to find his feet, allowing Subhasish Roy to clear with his toe. The Jamshedpur goalkeeper was called into action moments later and he responded brilliantly to parry striker Modou Sougou’s headed attempt over the bar.
At the other end, the away team could have killed off the game in the 63rd minute when Calvo chested down and played the ball across to Sumeet Passi just inches away from the goal line. Passi though was unable guide the ball into net.
Jamshedpur sealed the game late into injury time in the second half after Cidoncha fed substitute Morgado on the counter. Morgado calmly slotted the ball past Amrinder into the far corner. “Mumbai pushed a lot and we had to throw back and defend. I am very happy with the goalkeeper,” Jamshedpur coach Ferrando said after the game.
“My team lacked confidence in the first half but these things can happen in the first game. The disappointing thing for me was the team’s display in the last five minutes,” Mumbai City tactician Costa told reporters following the loss.