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Mumbai City FC head coach Petr Kratky made a couple of changes in central defence, bringing in Krouma and Mehtab to the starting XI against Chennaiyin FC. This move led to Rahul Bheke returning to his preferred right-back role.
The early moments of the game showcased Mumbai City FC’s threatening play. An attack from the left saw Vikram delivering a cross to Iker Guarrotxena, who laid it to the center of the box, where Apuia’s right-footed shot was blocked by the Chennaiyin FC defence. Moments later, the ball returned to the box, and Vikram’s header sent it over the bar.
In the 9th minute, Vikram was brought down by Sarthak Golui near the left end of the box. Van Nieff’s freekick was cleared away but the ball reached Apuia at the midway line, his shot from a distance whizzed over the bar.
On the defensive end, Noguera’s important touch foiled an attempt from Ninthoi and Crivellaro as they entered the Mumbai City box. In the 16th minute, Chennaiyin FC had a close call when Crivellaro struck a powerful shot from just outside the box, but Mumbai City custodian Phurba Lachenpa made a solid block.
Van Nieff then came close to breaking the deadlock with a curling freekick from 30 yards that dipped perfectly but went just wide of the target. On the opposite side, Chennaiyin FC also had a near miss as Ninthoi’s low shot from inside the box was denied by the strong right arm of Phurba Lachenpa.
Immediately after the water break, Iker Guarrotxena won the ball in defence, initiated a counter-attack, and combined with Noguera and Apuia to find Chhangte on the right. Chhangte delivered a looping ball to the far post for Vikram, whose header on target was tipped over by an alert Debjit.
In the closing stages of the first half, Connor Shields ran past a couple of players to find Ninthoi, who sent in a low cross into the box to find Crivellaro. However, Crivellaro took a touch too many before firing his final shot wide of the target.
Just before halftime whistle, the host went close again when Crivellaro sent Rahim through on goal, but Phurba came off his line to push the ball away. The clearance only went as far as another Chennaiyin FC attacker, Farukh Chaudhary, whose shot on target was headed over the bar by an alert Mishra from just in front of the goal line.
The first half ended with both sides heading into the tunnel with the deadlock yet to be broken.
The second half kicked off with Coach Petr Kratky making two changes, bringing in Tiri and Jayesh Rane for Mehtab and Van Nieff. Vikram attempted a shot from a distance early on, but it couldn’t find the target. At the other end, Chennaiyin FC posed a threat when Crivellaro’s curling ball into the box almost reached Connor Shields at the back post, but Akash Mishra’s timely block denied the opportunity.
Mumbai City intensified their attack, with Jayesh Rane providing a delicate through ball to Vikram inside the box. However, Vikram’s shot from a tight angle was saved by the Chennaiyin FC custodian. In the 53rd minute, Mumbai City was presented with a golden opportunity as Thaer Krouma was fouled in the penalty area. Chhangte stepped up to take the spot-kick, but unfortunately, his shot went just over the bar, keeping the score at 0-0.
Chennaiyin FC had a chance with Lazar Cirkovic’s header from close range missing to the left after a cross from Rafael Crivellaro following a corner. In the 66th minute, Vikram won the ball from the Chennaiyin FC defence inside the box, cutting it back for Iker Guarrotxena. However, Iker’s right-footed shot didn’t had enough power and was saved by the keeper.
Petr Kratky made a substitution, replacing Chhangte with Bipin Singh and the substitution made an immediate impact. In the 70th minute, Mumbai City FC broke the deadlock. Thaer Krouma won the ball in the attacking half and sent a curling cross over the Chennaiyin FC defence to find Bipin Singh at the far post. Bipin took a touch before firing his shot into the net, giving Mumbai City the lead.
Minutes later, Bipin made another impressive run with the ball before passing it to Iker at the edge of the box. Iker then returned the ball to Bipin, whose shot from inside the box was blocked away.
In the 85th minute, Vikram Singh found Iker Guarrotxena inside the box, and Iker’s low shot brought out a save from the Chennaiyin FC goalkeeper. However, the rebound fell nearby, and before a lurking Bipin Singh could reach it, Chennaiyin FC defender Akash Sangwan made a timely intervention to clear it away.
As the game entered the 90th minute, Mumbai City FC doubled their lead. Bipin Singh latched on to a long cross from the right, cut back inside to beat his marker, and fired in a strike from outside the box to the near post, finding the net as Debjit remained rooted to his spot.
In the final moments of the game, Chennaiyin FC had a chance to find the net after Jordan Murray sent in a low cross. A moment of confusion almost gave Vincy a tap-in opportunity, but he couldn’t reach the ball as the Mumbai defence eventually cleared it away.
The game concluded with Mumbai City FC securing a 2-0 victory, propelling them to 2nd place in the league table, tied on points with the league leaders but with just a one-goal difference. The Islanders are set to face FC Goa at home on February 28.
#MumbaiCity FC score a vital 2-0 away win at #ChennaiyinFC in an intense #ISL encounter. #BipinSingh scores both #TheIslanders goals as a super-sub. #IndianFootball
— Arunava Chaudhuri | arunfoot (@Arunfoot) February 23, 2024
