Two goals in the first half combined with an organised defence helped NorthEast United FC to a 2-0 win against Mumbai City FC on Wednesday, with Rowllin Borges and Bartholomew Ogbeche striking at the Mumbai Football Arena.
Sluggish defending from the home side played a big part in both the goals and added to that the big blow of Romanian central defender Lucian Goian missing out because of a suspension after picking up his fourth yellow card against Jamshedpur FC. The match was out of MCFC's grasp by the time Marko Klisura, Goian's replacement, settled down.
MCFC was punished in the fourth minute when Keegan Pereira was allowed time and space down the right flank. He raced into the attacking third, changed direction with a deft touch and squared Borges who found the roof of the net with a first-time finish past a diving Amrinder Singh.
Rafael Bastos almost got the equaliser when he was in the right place to intercept a backpass but his shot bounced off the crossbar.
The second goal came from a run from the other flank. Reagen Singh crossed across the face of the goal and an unmarked Ogbeche deflected it home with ease with Amrinder rooted at the post.
A lobbed cross from Bastos almost found Arnold Issoko but the visitor's high line caught him offside.
This is NEUFC's seventh win of the season and it moves to second place in the Indian Super League table, with the defeat pushing MCFC to third position — level on points, goal difference and goals scored (27, +4, 21) with NEUFC.
The result: North EastUnited FC 2 (Rowllin Borges 4', Bartholmew Ogbeche 33') bt Mumbai City FC 0
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