Mumbai City FC vs FC Goa, ISL Semifinal 2nd leg highlights: MCFC wins 5-2 on aggt., faces Mohun Bagan SG in final

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ISL 2023-24: Mumbai City beats FC Goa to set up Indian Super League final against Mohun Bagan SG

Jorge Pereyra Diaz scored on his return as Mumbai City FC beat FC Goa 4-2 on aggregate to set up the Indian Super League final against Mohun Bagan Super Giant.

Mumbai City FC continues its brilliant run under coach Petr Kratky as it beats FC Goa convincingly to set up a rematch of the Shield clash, against Mohun Bagan SG at the Salt Lake Stadium in May 4.

Mumbai City was pushed to the backfoot in the opening quarter of the game. But the host has dragged the match into its control with proper command, scoring off Diaz and Chhangte.

Goa is trying everything to get a goal back but Lachenpa is keeping his footing right on spot to deny any chance to the Gaurs in the dying moments of regulation time.

The blow to the visitors’ morale is evident on their faces. Goa’s job is getting nearly impossible. It has had a great turnaround this season but its campaign is on the verge of ending in a few minutes, if nothing changes.

Goa loses the ball in the midfield and Mumbai attacks on the counter, with Vikram driving a low cross from the left for Chhangte. The India international gets the ball, keeps his composure to stave off Dheeraj and calmly strikes the ball into the net.

Manolo introduces two changes to shift gears in the last quarter.

In: Paolo Retre, Brison Fernandes, Out: Noah Sadaoui, Brandon Fernandes

FC Goa tries to start an attack, with Borja barging into the final third but Votjus thrown him down to give a free kick to Goa at the edge of the box. The Slovakian also gets into the book for the challege.

Mumbai attacks again, with Vikram receiving a pass from Diaz and tries a shot from inside the box. But Van Nieff’s heel gets the ball out for a corner kick, which, taken by Chhangte, ends to nothing.

FC Goa has a higher mountain to climb now. With a two-goal cushion and Mumbai forcing corners one after the other, the visitors will have to come up with solutions before its is too late.

Van Nieff takes the corner, which is headed on target by Bheke. Goa blocks it but Diaz rattles the net on rebound and puts Mumbai further ahead. What a return for the forward, who started after completing his suspension.

Nieff’s corner kick falls for Mehtab, whose header is blocked by McHugh’s shoulder. The ball gets to Diaz on the rebound, but the forward fails to get a proper shot on it, struggling to get his footing correct.

Van Nieff takes the corner kick, which is headed by Tiri but the ball goes over the net to land on it, after a touch off an FC Goa player.

Mumbai tries another attack, with Krouma setting up Tiri on the far post, whose volley is, somehow, pushed out for a corner kick by Dheeraj.

In: Ayush Chhetri, Boris Singh

Out: Rowllin Borges, Seriton Fernandes

Chhange gets the ball along the left flank, beats his marker and switches his feet to send in a left-footed curler which flies inches over the net. Dheeraj was beaten.

The second half has suddenly shifted gears with every movement leading close chances on either end. Mumbai is keeping six people posted to curb midfield movements of the Gaurs, who are looking to introduce Boris in some time.

This match is becoming an end-to-end clash. Chhangte gets the ball along the right flank, stretches the FC Goa defence with a run and tries to set up Vikram along the far post but the Indian forward fails to get to the ball on time.

Carlos Martinez draws defenders towards him to release Brandon, who crosses for Sadaoui on the far post. Sadaoui’s header is caught just in time by Lachenpa.

Action on the other end. Sadaoui makes a run along the left flank, tries to whip in a low cross, which is blocked by Bheke.

Van Nieff sets up Mehtab wonderfully along the right, with a long ball from the left but his header is off-target, failing to cause any real trouble for Dheeraj Singh.

Mumbai City FC looks to ave absorbed the early pressure really well and maintaining a eavy mid-block to ward off Goa’s attack.

Despite FC Goa’s woodwork denying two clear goals to Mumbai City FC, the hosts remain ahead, courtesy of their first half score.

Goa takes the long ball approach, with Jay Gupta trying to set up Sadaoui, who tries ot run behind Rahul Bheke, but falls in the off-side trap.

Mumbai City blocks Goa’s free-kick and the clearance almost releses Vikram Partap Singh, who rushes down the left flank but he fails to keep the ball in play, which rolls past the line.

Carlos Martinez sets up Sadaoui along the left flank but his cross is cleared by Tiri. Seconds later, Martinez tries to set up an attack after getting a pass from Jay Gupta but he is closed down by three MCFC players.

Noah Sadaoui of FC Goa and Yoell Van Nieff of Mumbai City are both cautioned by the referee after a word with the assistant referee, which means, whichever side reaches the final, one of the two will miss it.

Diaz beats Apuia to get the ball and sets up Chhangte on the right. Chhangte shoots, beats Dheeraj, but the ball comes off the base of the bar, again! This is the second time MCFC has been denied by the woodwork.

As the match resumed after a two-minute break, the host is enjoying plenty of possession and already is on the driving seat, with a one-goal advantage. Goa, on the other hand, will look to go the Mohun Bagan SG way to revert the lead, as the Mariners did last night.

Mumbai tries to capitalise on an attack along the left flank. Viikram marauds down the flank, tries a cross, but Goa makes an easy block as play pauses for the first cooling break.

Goa tries to get possession back in the midfield and McHugh barges in to snatch it off Van Nieff. However, he ends up conceding a foul.

The ball moves from Krouma to Lachenpa, who fails to take control of the ball in his first attempt but makes amends in time to keeps the scores locked at 0-0 in this match.

Mumbai City FC takes the free-kick and Tiri gets his head to it. However, the ball comes off the post.

Odei Onaindia makes a critical clearance, intercepting a cross from the left, with Diaz waiting just behind him.

Goa tries to start an attack similar to the one where it scored in the first leg, with Brandon trying to carry the ball from the midfield. Apuia fouls him and the free-kick is eventually cleared by Jayesh Rane.

Mumbai City has finally arrived in this game with two very promising chances. And it looks to build on slowly with back passes at the moment. It loses the ball in the midfield as Goa, through Udanta, gets cross from the left which is cleared by MCFC.

Mumbai attacks on the counter with Diaz carrying the ball from the midfield into the final third. He crosses to Chhangte but just then, the referee stops play as Diaz was seen fouling Brandon and the MCFC coach Kratky is furious.

FC Goa tries to reply with a slow build up attack, which builds along the left flank. His shot is blocked.

Mumbai City gets a free-kick outside the penalty box, which is met by Krouma to set up someone in the centre. However, Goa keeps a tight line to clear the ball away.

Mumbai tests the Goa defence for the first time as Diaz and Chhangte combine in the final third, with the former flicking the ball up for Chhangte, who beats his marker and kands a shot on target. Dheeraj saves but fails to grab it in his first attempt but does well to cling to it the second time.

FC Goa will be cautious of slacking as Mumbai City, after remaining on the backseat for 89 minutes in the first leg, won it 3-2, with three goals in seven minutes.

Goa is all over Mumbai on the pitch, with Gupta playing as an overlapping full-back this time. He makes a run along the left and tries to create an attack when Mumbai tracks back to contain the development.

Brandon gets the ball in front of the box and tries a shot on goal, but his attempt is blocked. Udanta tries to set up a player in the centre with a cross from the right, second later, but there is no one to meet it.

Goa is pressing Mumbai very hight, with the host forced into a defensive block of backwards passes only. It tries to clear the ball away and Goa takes back control of the ball.

Goa tries to start an early attack with Sadaoui sprinting along the left flank but MCFC’s captain, Bheke wards off the development to give a corner for Gaurs. It is headed away by Tiri.

The second leg of the semifinal kicks off between Mumbai City FC and FC Goa, with the host starting from left to right an Goa starting from the other end.

Manolo Marquez, FC Goa

“I think I can do better substitutions, not only in the last game but also in matches that we have won. We are now here in this part, but maybe this is a reason we love football, because of these kinds of situations.”

Petr Kratky, Mumbai City FC

“I tell my boys on the bench that the way they come on the ground and make an impact is the most important thing. I’m very happy for my team and the boys, because they are very deserving of it.”

Mumbai City FC will host FC Goa in the second leg of the Indian Super League (ISL) semifinal with hopes to build on its one-goal advantage at the Mumbai Football Arena on Monday.

MCFC scored three goals in seven minutes to beat the Gaurs 3-2 in the first leg. Lallianzuala Chhangte scored in the 90th minute while Vikram Partap Singh equalised soon after, while Chhangte got his brace to complete the comeback.

The Islanders recently lost the Shield to Mohun Bagan Super Giant, and the Championship will be head coach Petr Kratky’s last hope to end his first season with silverware.