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Mumbai FC overcame an off-colour United Sikkim FC side 1-0 in an I-League Round 11 encounter at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune on Saturday.
Striker ND Opara scored the only goal of the game for the hosts in first half injury time. With this win, Mumbai FC rise up to 5th position in the table with 16 points.
Mumbai FC started the game with one change in their line-up; striker ND Opara replacing playmaker Evans Qauo. Coach Khalid Jamil started with an attack minded side which included three strikers.
United Sikkim had the first chance in the game after seven minutes. Skipper Michael Rodriugues’ freekick from 20-yards out deflected off the wall to fall in path of Nuruddin Salav whose shot was saved by Mumbai FC custodian Luis Barreto.
Three minutes later, Gabriel Fernandes’ left footed attempt from top of the box went just wide. Minutes later, USFC’s keeper Monotosh Ghosh prevented Gabriel from scoring on a cheeky back-heel.
Mumbai FC had started to dominate proceedings with the trio of Yusif Yakubu, Opara and Gabriel tormenting the visitor’s defence. Twenty minutes into the half, medio Ashutosh Mehta had his attempt from inside the box go wide.
Midway through the half, Opara on a counter sent a looped ball to Yakubu rushing inside the box. Yakubu tried to lob the keeper but Monotosh was at his best to deny the Ghanian.
Two minutes later, Sandesh Jhingan brought down Opara on the right just outside the box. Nicholas Rodrigues stepped up and curled his freekick in only for the keeper to push it onto the crossbar. Yakubu tried to utilise the rebound but Monotosh was fouled in the process.
Mumbai FC finally took the lead in the first minute of added time when ND Opara headed a cross from Nicholas Rodrigues past the helpless USFC ‘keeper. The hosts went into the break with a goal’s advantage.
The second half began with Mumbai FC dominating proceedings. Five minutes into the half, Justin Stephen’s long-range attempt went wide.
The game slowly developed into a midfield battle. Both sides created several opportunities but their finishing in the final third let them down.
Coach Khalid Jamil brought in Kamaljeet Kumar in place of Gabriel to add stability in the backline. The hosts were dominating possession as USFC were getting more and more desperate for the equaliser.
Ten minutes from the end Mumbai FC went close to double their advantage. Nicholas’ freekick from the right once again came off the crossbar and moments later Yakubu’s header off Kamaljeet’s cross went agonisingly wide.
Into the final ten minutes the Coach brought in Evans in place of goalscorer Opara. A minute later, Avishek Das’ grounder from the right was cleared by the home-side’s defense.
Into added time, Evans’ pin-point header from Nicholas’ freekick was saved on the line by Monotosh. A minute later, USFC skipper Michael’s freekick went just wide. The game ended 1-0 in favour of the hosts.