Mumbai FC split points with East Bengal as they played out a goalless draw at the Cooperage stadium here on Sunday. The game under floodlights was played at a fast pace with both sides working hard to create chances but the strikers were unable to find the net. This was MFC’s second draw in as many games while EB had one away win going into Sunday’s away tie.
After a goalless, though action-packed, first half, the visitors broke through on the left flank. Bikash Jairu forged ahead down the flank and switched to Ranti Martins sneaking through the middle. The Nigerian found Sanju Pradhan in the clear but the latter delayed his shot enough for a defender to clear the danger.
MFC replied with a move created by Irata Izumi, putting Eric Brown in possession. The latter swung a pass across to the right flank. EB defenders did not get time to cover the angle, however were lucky when Steven Dias, in possession and goal in sight, blazed over.
The Mumbai defence kept Ranti under close watch. East Bengal’s backline and midfielders combined to deny the home team attackers a clear look at target, forcing the former to move in down the right flank where Dias-Rane combination created problems for the Kolkata side. Reheneesh and Pawan Kumar, the two custodians, were alert to threats, resulting in a points split and no goals scored.
Sporting shoot blanks
Sporting Clube de Goa were left frustrated by DSK Shivajians F.C. after the debutants saw off some late upsurge in attack from the hosts, to finish the game 0-0.
Mateus Costa made two changes to his starting XI from the side that lost 3-1 against East Bengal; Rowlin Borges came in for Cajetan Fernandes, where as Glen Martins came in for Mauvin Borges.
The game started with early end-to-end football, as chances came in plenty for both sides. Indrajeet Chougule had the first chance for DSK after the winger skipped past his marker on the right to cut onto his left foot, but his curler went just wide of Arindam Bhattachrya’s goal.
Subrata Paul’s service were called upon for by Odafa Okolie in the 10th minute, as the striker bullied past his marker in the box and shot straight at the DSK goalkeeper, only to be saved with ease.
Mohammad Rafi got his head to a DSK corner with ease, but his header was way off the mark. He was unmarked in the box and could have done better.
Lively second half
Chances were rare and few towards the end of the first half, but the game was came to life in the second interval.
It seemed almost as though both sides decided to turn up the ante in the second half, with the second half beginning with more vigor and dynamism. Indrajit was at the thick of things for DSK in the second half, with the youngster nearly scoring from 35 yards out, after a well taken attempt forced a gallant save from Arindam.
Rowlin Borges had a one-on-one chance against Subrata Paul in the 76th minute but the latter won the dual. Odafa set the medio up with a well-paced through ball in a counter-attacking move. However, Rowlin could not put the ball past Paul’s stretched right leg.
There was plenty of drama in the end as Loveday’s header from a corner seemed to have crossed the line, but television replays suggested that it was a tough goal to hand to Sporting.
DSK had their heart in their mouth towards the end as Subrata Paul went down and looked to be in serious pain after colliding with Odafa Okolie. He insisted on finishing the game and did the same.
Zohib Amiri was booked in extra time (90+5) for a rash challenge and that was the only caution issued by the referee during the game.
There were plenty of positives for Derrick Pereira’s side as the scoreline ended at 0-0, but plenty of thinking to do for Mateus Costa’s Sporting.
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