Mumbai City started on the front foot. In the fourth minute, Akash Mishra played a through ball to Ajsal, whose shot was saved. The rebound fell to Zothanpuia, but his attempt was blocked. Two minutes later, the Islanders took the lead. Ajsal played a one-two with PN Noufal before slotting the ball home to score Mumbai City’s first open-play goal of the season.
Hridaya Jain came close to adding a second in the 23rd minute when he met Ajsal’s cushioned pass inside the box following a floated delivery from Akash Mishra, but his effort went over the bar. Mumbai City doubled their lead in the 27th minute. Noufal made a strong run down the left and delivered a cross for Zothanpuia, who calmly finished with his right foot, guiding the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 2-0.
The second half began with both teams showing attacking intent, while the Mumbai City defence stood firm against SC Delhi’s through balls.
SC Delhi were handed a way back into the game in the 73rd minute. Carlos Fortes, who had come on just two minutes earlier, tapped the ball home from close range after an Ashutosh Mehta assist, following a corner that Mumbai City failed to clear.
Mumbai City brought on Brandon Fernandes for Tluanga in the 74th minute before making two more changes in the 90th minute, with Yuvraj replacing Noufal and Nathan coming on for Ajsal.
SC Delhi found their equaliser in the 90+2nd minute. Substitute Akshat Mehra, who had come on moments earlier, struck the ball across the goalkeeper from distance following an assist from Richard Ndiayishimaye. Pena then sprinted across the pitch before scoring a solo goal in the 90+4th minute to complete the turnaround and seal the win for the visitors.
Manolo Márquez’s side will now turn their attention to their next fixture, an away clash against Bengaluru FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Friday, 20 November.
