‘INDIAN SPIDERMAN’ PAUL KEEPS GOA AT BAY

MUMBAI: The opulence of the Indian Super League (ISL) seems to be fading in the past couple of weeks. Goals have dried up and 0-0 scorelines have dominated results.

The excitement might have piped down due to al ack of goals, the turn of events has given enthusiasts a chance to admire the less glamorous role of the goalkeeper. To say Mumbai City FC’s Subrata Paul is playing this role to the hilt would be an understatement. Since Mumbai’s 5-1 drubbing against Chennaiy in FC in October, Paul has not conceded a single goal in the intervening games, completing his fifth clean-sheet in a row, keeping FC Goa at bay on Monday. Paul has now twice denied Kerala Blasters and Goa while also keeping out Delhi Dynamos. Dubbed the ‘Indian Spiderman’ by the South Korean media during his stint in the Asia Cup, it was this reputation that seemed to be at play during the match on Monday. His unorthodox technique is likely to trick any opposition into complacency. However, the player has proved worthy in the manner in which he has defended the goal while pitted against the likes of Elano, and Alessandro Del Piero.

He let in 10 goals after just four games, but the last five games have shown his ability. The game flowed from end to end. Go a though hadt he better chances. In the 87th minute, Tolgay Ozbey managed to beat Subrata Paul with a powerful left footed shot but the right post denied him. Another late chance proved Paul’s superiority, as he saved Mandar’s powerful left footed shot. While the big names like Nicolas Anelka, Andre Moritz failed to make a consistent impact upfront, in the background, nearly five months after becoming ISL’s firstever draft pick, Paul seems to have already repaid the faith Mumbai placed in him.