Photo caption:
Mumbai FC Central defender Pratik Choudhary clears the ball during the concluding I-League match against East Bengal at the Cooperage ground.
Mumbai FC go down to East Bengal
Mumbai, April 29: Mumbai FC suffered a 0-4 defeat at the hands of East Bengal in the concluding match of the I-League 2016-2017 and played at the Cooperage ground on Saturday evening.
Coach Oscar Bruzon made two changes in the Mumbai team that drew against Shillong Lajong last Sunday. Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Densill Theobald and young attacking midfielder Hitesh Sharma came in for Nikhil Kadam and Shilton D’Silva. Mumbai FC’s Spanish coach banked on his tried and trusted four-man backline of Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Pratik Choudhary, Reagan Singh and Munmun Lugun, but they were unable to keep the rival attackers under control.
The East Bengal attack was well-organised and they played at a very fast pace and with some swift moves often caught the Mumbai defence napping and punished the home team. In the very eight minute, Rowlin Borges worked with wing back Rahul Bheke to break free down the right. Borges after advancing deep sent a low ball into the area. Willis Plaza failed to connect but Bikash Jairu charged in from the left side and with an on-the-run essay found the roof of the net to give the visitors the lead.
The dashing forward Jairu who had an outstanding game was later adjudged the ‘Man-of-the-match’ and received a cash award of Rs 10,000.
The Mumbai goal survived from conceding the second goal in the very next minute, but Ansleme Wedson after creating space inside the area blasted over from close.
The home side fought on gallantly and made some determined efforts to find the equalizer. Their hard-working striker Victorino Fernandes had a couple of shots at goal and came close in the 31st minute, but his header from Lugun’s delivery from the left went wide off the upright.
Ten minutes later, East Bengal doubled the lead when Plaza after controlling the ball near the edge of area beat goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani with a snap shot. The ball brushed the fingertips of goalkeeper Kattimani.
Although the home side pressed hard after resumption but in a bid to get back into the game they let their guard down at the back and paid dearly as the visiting Bengal side added two more goals through Ansleme in the 62nd minute and Plaza in the 68th minute to finish with a deserving win.
Currently, Mumbai FC are in ninth place with 13 points ahead of Minerva Punjab who have 12 points but with a match in hand against DSK Shivajians on Sunday. East Bengal with 33 points stay in third position.
Results:
Mumbai FC 0 lost to East Bengal 4 (Bikash Jairu 8th, Willis Plaza 41st, 68th, Wedson Ansleme 62nd).