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Mumbai City FC defeated defending champions Chennaiyin FC 2-0 on Wednesday night at the Mumbai Football Arena in the Indian Super League – Season 3 and thereby qualified for the first time for the ISL semifinals.
Mumbai City FC were the better of the two sides but early chances for Diego Forlan and Matias Defederico were wasted before they went ahead in the 32nd minute, when Sunil Chhetri and Matias Defederico combined with the Argentinian scoring past keeper Karanjit Singh for the 100th goal of ISL-3.
Going behind was like a wake-up call for the champions, but despite now having more of the ball Chennaiyin FC didn’t really create any chance as only a shoot from Raphael Augusto had to be saved by keeper Amrinder Singh, while at the other end a deflected Forlan free kick had to be kept out by Karanjit. At the break Mumbai City was leading 1-0.
The second session started off on a slower note with Chennaiyin FC looking for the equaliser, but it was Mumbai City at the hour mark who doubled the lead when Krisztian Vadocz banged in a ball from Forlan in style.
After Mumbai City’s second goal it felt like the match was over with Chennaiyin FC not being dangerous enough in the final third. India captain Sunil Chhetri, still without a goal in ISL-3, had two chances within a few seconds but on both occasions he blasted over. A minute from time substitute Thiago Cunha should have scored Mumbai City’s third but a brilliant Karanjit save denied him his goal.
In the end Mumbai City FC scored a deserving 2-0 win over Chennaiyin FC and qualified for the first time for the semifinals of the Indian Super League, while Chennaiyin FC are now in danger of dropping out of the championship race before it reaches the knockout stage.
Match Awards
Club award: Mumbai City FC
Amul Fittest Player of the Match: Bernard Mendy (Chennaiyin FC)
DHL Winning Pass of the Match: Sunil Chhetri (Mumbai City FC)
Maruti Suzuki Swift Moment of the Match: Matias Defederico (Mumbai City FC)
ISL Emerging Player of the Match: Sena Ralte (Mumbai City FC)
Hero of the Match: Krisztian Vadocz (Mumbai City FC)
