Mumbai edge past Chennaiyin, add to woes of defending champs
CHENNAI: Mumbai City FC rode on Modou Sougou’s 20th minute strike to register a shock 1-0 win over defending champions Chennaiyin FC in an Indian Super League match here on Saturday.
While it was Mumbai’s third win in the last four games, Chennaiyin slumped to a fifth defeat in six games this season to continue a surprisingly barren run. John Gregory’s men languish at the bottom of the table with a solitary point from a drawn game against Delhi Dynamos.
The all-important goal came against the run of play when Rafael Bastos sent a through ball to Modou Sougou. The Senegalese player got inside the box and shot with his left foot but Chennaiyin goalie Karanjit Singh made a good stop but he got a second chance and didn’t miss this time. He slotted the ball past the goalkeeper to the far corner to make sure that Mumbai’s first shot was on target.
Chennaiyin had made a good start to the game and they were spurred into action by the Sougou strike but their attempts to level the score didn’t materialise. They kept attacking and putting in the crosses but a goal continued to elude them. The Mumbai defence held firm under sustained pressure as Andrea Orlandi was in the thick of things.
Mumbai City goalkeeper Amrinder Singh kept the CFC strikers at bay with some crucial saves including one when Isaac Vanmalsawma took a corner with Orlandi waiting to pounce on the ball.
In the 41st minute, Orlandi had a chance as he got past a few defenders and headed inside the box and attempted to get past Subhasish Bose. Orlandi was down and appealed for a penalty, which was turned down by the referee.
In the second half, the home side played with great resolve but the Mumbai City FC defence held firm under pressure to secure three important points.
After As Chennaiyin pressed for the equaliser, Nelson was in the thick of action, pushing forward in the 70th minute but Anirudh Thapa shot wide.
DYNAMOS TAKE ON JAMSHEDPUR FC
NEW DELHI: Meanwhile, Delhi Dynamos will look to gather their first three points of the season when they host Jamshedpur FC here on Sunday.
The visitors come into the game unbeaten so far and on the back of a 4-1 win against FC Goa.
Dynamos have been struggling, having lost their last two games and are winless so far.