After suffering a loss in the opening game, Mumbai City FC have come up with consistent and commendable performance, as they tamed former champions Chennaiyin FC 2-1 in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2020-21 clash at the GMC Stadium in Telangana on Wednesday. With this win, Mumbai have consolidated their spot on the top, while Chennaiyin continue to struggle, at the eighth spot.
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The opening half was off to an intense start, as the teams came up with eight attempts, including a couple of saves, before Jakub Sylvestr's close-ranged right-footed strike in the 39th minute, following an assist from Lallianzuala Chhangte, put the visitors ahead. It was followed by three more attempts, before Hernán Santana levelled things up for Mumbai at the stroke of half-time, as he headed home Hugo Boumous' cross, while the deadlock stayed at the end of the first half.
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The second half surprisingly saw a composed approached from both the sides, with as many as three attempts coming in. It was then in the 74th minute when Adam Le Fondre close-range effort through his right foot, followed by an assist from Boumous again, in the 74th minute put the hosts ahead. Trailing behind, Chennaiyin came up with eight attacks thereon, only to be denied by Mumbai's rock-solid defence, as the referee blew the full-time whistle.
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Meanwhile, Mumbai's manager Sergio Lobera, too, expressed his delight at the consecutive four wins. "I am happy because today we won a very difficult game against a very good and competitive team. We were very tired in the last minutes and that is normal when you are playing two games in three days. It was difficult to press the opponent team, but I think the team worked very hard," he considered following the win.
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"We were very tired in the last minutes and that is normal when you are playing two games in three days. It was difficult to press the opponent team, but I think the team worked very hard," Laszlo added.
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Mumbai's skipper Amrinder Singh reckoned, "It was a difficult game. We played only three days ago and had to recover quickly. Everyone played well and I am very proud of the team."
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Following the game, Chennaiyin head coach Csaba Laszlo expressed his disappointment, by saying, "I can't tell you how disappointed I am. The boys did a good job. I am tired to go back to the referees and talk (about decisions that did not go our way). We had some good chances to score and others the opposition played well. Two big mistakes from us (led to the goal). If every game is like this in Indian football, then fans can be happy. It was a good and entertaining football game."
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