Mumbai City first Indian club to win in elite league
RIYADH: Mumbai City FC scripted history as they fought back from a goal down to stun Iraqi giants Air Force Club 2-1 and become the first Indian club to win a game at the top-tier AFC Asian Champions League.
After conceding in the 59th minute of the group B fixture, Mumbai City, who won the Indian Super League Shield and trophy in the 2020-21 season, drew level with a penalty by Diego Mauricio in the 70th minute after he was brought down in the box. Defender Rahul Bheke scored his team’s crucial winning goal, with a header in the 75th minute following a corner on Monday night.
Mumbai had lost their opening match to Al Shabab 0-3. After a goalless first half, substitute Hammadi Ahmad gave three-time AFC Cup champions Air Force Club the lead before Mumbai City rallied with goals from Maurício and Bheke to seal the historic win at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh. Air Force Club asserted themselves in the game from the early minutes, pinning Mumbai City deep into their own half but the Iraqi side couldn’t convert their chances. Air Force Club’s Alaa Abbas was causing all sorts of problems for Mumbai City but the forward should have done better in the ninth minute when his tame effort was easily collected by goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa. Mumbai City had their first look at goal just before the half-hour mark, Ahmed Jahouh finding space before setting up for Lallianzuala Chhangte, who blasted his longrange effort wide. At the other end, Air Force Club missed a chance after Abbas headed a Dhurgham Ismail delivery high above the bar before the latter tried to force his shot from a tight angle.
Hakeem Shakir’s side were almost caught off guard in the 31st minute when Mumbai City’s Ahmed Jahouh sent an inviting cross into the danger area but Diego Maurício couldn’t keep his headed effort on target. The best chance of the half fell to Air Force Club in the 34th minute but Hussein Jabbar struggled to guide Ismail’s effort into the back of net from close range while Chhangte was forced into a fingertip save three minutes later.