Mumbai City FC earned a hard fought draw against hosts FC Goa at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda. It is the third goalless draw between the clubs in the history of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL). The hosts fashioned a number of chances to score a goal but were unable to apply the finishing touch. Sunil Chhetri came closest for the away side after he fluffed a good chance at the start of the second half. Julio Cesar was denied a chance at glory after a superb save from Amrinder after Trindade Goncalves found him in the box in acres of space. The hosts move up to seventh on the table after they leapfrogged NorthEast United FC.

It was a frenetic start to the first half with both teams looking for the initiative. Mandar Rao Dessai showed good pace to get to a ball on the left but a defender hit it out for a corner. Richarlyson’s subsequent corner just about evaded the head of Robin Singh in the box. Sunil Chhetri was the first player to get a shot on target after he arrowed a left footed shot at goal but Laxmikant Kattimani made the save easily. Keenan Almeida was booked for a tackle on Sony Norde as early as the fifth minute in what was promising to be an open encounter. Hero of the last match, Romeo Fernandes was wreaking havoc down the right hand side for the home side. His mazy runs and pace kept the Mumbai City defence grounded.

For the away side, Chhetri seemed to be in the mood as he looked to dribble his way past the defence. FC Goa began to get a foothold in the match as the half went on. Debabrata Roy and Richarlyson combined well to create a few chances for the Gaurs but they were unable to apply the finishing touch. In the 22nd minute, Rafael collected the ball in midfield and played a rampaging Romeo in. The winger got on to the end of the ball but his shot from a tight angle didn’t trouble Amrinder Singh.

In the 25th minute, Rafael’s ball over the top for Romeo almost caught out the Mumbai defence who managed to recover in time to avert danger. At the other end, Chhetri’s smart ball to Diego Forlan presented the Uruguayan with a chance to get the opener but his deflected shot was collected easily by Kattimani. A poor foul on Romeo gave the Gaurs a good chance to hit the target in the 33rd minute but Richarlyson’s free-kick was too high to trouble the goalkeeper. With Mumbai looking to hit the Gaurs on the counter, Forlan unleashed a terrific 35 yard shot but Kattimani was alert enough to deny the striker. The home side were pushing hard for the opener while Mumbai were content with playing the ball from defence. The Gaurs were almost caught out again in the 43rd minute after Sony Norde received the ball in the box. Luckily for the Gaurs, Gregory read the danger and intercepted. As the half was nearing its end, Goa were presented with a half chance after Robin played Mandar in but the winger’s first touch took the ball too far ahead of him as the referee called time.

It was more of the same in the second period as the Gaurs looked to force the pace. Aiborlang Khongjee went off with injury for Anwar Ali in the 50th minute. FC Goa won a series of corner kicks thereafter but were unable to make it count. In a bid to get that all important goal, Zico made some bold changes as he took off fullbacks Debabrata Roy and Keenan Almeida and replaced them with Trindade Goncalves and Joffre Mateu as he reverted to a 3-5-2 formation. Sanjay Balmuchu was pushed back into defence but he too was substituted off with injury minutes later as Julio Cesar was brought on. However, it was the hosts who really should have taken the lead in the 62nd minute. Forlan chased a long ball in the box and managed to steal it off Gregory to feed Sunil Chhetri. The Indian captain fluffed his shot and the Gaurs were saved their blushes. Three minutes later, Forlan was through again and this time is shot that beat the keeper was cleared off the line by a backtracking Gregory.

The hosts intensified their efforts going forward with Julio’s shot deflecting into Amrinder’s arms. Goa were playing attacking football at its best but risked being caught on the counter attack. The FC Goa substitutes seemed to make a difference to the attacking play but entering the last quarter of the match, a goal was yet to be scored. A superb cross from Mandar in the 78th minute presented Robin with a good chance to score and the Indian really should have tapped past Amrinder but his shot sailed out of play. Rafael found Julio on the edge of the box in the 81st minute but his attempts to dribble past the defence were thwarted as the hosts missed another chance to score. The away side fashioned a chance of their own in the 84th minute after Chhetri skipped away from a couple of challenges and hit a left footed shot towards the far post. Kattimani was forced to dive full length to his left to keep it out. The hosts were given a lifeline in the 89th minute after a foul on Robin just outside the box but Julio’s shot was deflected for a corner. Goa were unable to capitalise from the corner but they kept the pressure up in the hope of finding a late winner and they so nearly did after a superb defence splitting pass from Trindade found Julio on his left foot with only the keeper to beat. Amrinder though, stuck out a strong hand to deny the Brazilian as the hosts were kept to a 0-0 draw in front of the vociferous support.

Head coach Zico reflected on the missed chances during the post match press conference. “We had a lot of chances to score but we also made a lot of mistakes today. Our missed passes gave them a chance to attack us. We need to adjust our aim. We’re creating but not scoring. Additionally, today we had to take risks. We need to win. Hence, I had to adjust the team the way I did in the second half. Against a forward line like Chhetri, Norde and Forlan, it was always dangerous but we had to do it,” Zico explained. There have been much fewer goals scored this year as compared to the last season and the Brazilian was quick to explain that teams aren’t really opening up much this year. “All teams are looking to counter-attack and not many teams are opening up. Hence we see a lot of away victories this year as teams rely on the counter-attack method,” he opined.

The Gaurs have yet another home encounter against a strong Atletico de Kolkata outfit on the 24th as they continue their bid to earn a spot in the play offs.

(FC Goa Press Release)