I-League: Mumbai FC beat Salgaocar 2-1

Mumbai: In an entertaining tie at the Cooperage, Mumbai FC ran out 2-1 winner over Salgaocar, who would be disappointed with themselves as they wasted chance after chance, especially in the second half. The hosts went ahead in the 2nd minute after a Gurpreet Singh own goal. Keita equalized in the second half, but Vincent came on to score the winner, which was enough to see off the visitors.

Mumbai FC started the game with Abhishek Yadav and Basheeru Abbas up front, as Kayne Vincent started on the bench. Salgaocar started with the impressive Keita, who partnered Eneke up front, in an all-foreign strike force. The spectators and coaches had barely taken their seats, when Mumbai scored, thanks to some poor defending from Salgaocar. Noel Wilson floated in a free kick from the right, and as no one got to it, Gurpreet Singh didn`t react quickly enough, and the ball ricocheted off his leg to go into the net. Kalyan Chaubey was furious, and Gurpreet bemused, while Khalid Jamil must be thanking the stars. Just five minutes later, Mumbai had a golden opportunity to double their lead, as Subhash Chakraborty, who was a livewire throughout the half, went past Keenan to send in a good cross, which was headed on at the near post by Basheeru. The ball eventually fell to Abhishek Yadav at the far post, who was completely unmarked, but he took an air shot, missing the ball completely. Salgaocar responded well to the goal, and had a good amount of possession, but lacked the edge up front. Mumbai looked dangerous on the counter attack, especially down the right flank through Subhash Chakraborty. The hosts wasted another opportunity as Basheeru was left unchallenged in the box as a cross from the right fell straight to him. He side footed his volley in from 6 yards, but could only find the near post. The ball came back to him, but he fired his second attempt into the side netting from an acute angle. Then, late in the half, Salgaocar had two chances in two minutes, both falling to Eneke. First, in the 37th minute, Avneet Shergill`s superb cross from the right almost found the striker at the far post, but he couldn`t time his jump well, and sent his header wide. Then, two minutes later, Keita went on a marauding run as he chested the ball down with his back to goal, flicked it over and ran past the defence on the left before cutting it low across goal. With Koya beaten, the ball fell to Eneke just two yards out with an open goal waiting for him, but he could only guide the ball wide, as he failed to make any real connection. Mumbai FC thanked the stars once again, as they went into half time leading 1-0. Salgaocar came firing off the blocks in the second half, and almost took the lead in the 48th minute at a corner. Eneke rose highest at the setpiece, but the shot came off Kamaljeet Kumar on the line. However, he couldn`t get the ball away, and Luciano pounced on the loose ball, only to fire it wide. The Goans looked much more purposeful in attack, and really should have scored five minutes later. Gurpreet Singh sent in a decent cross from the right, Eneke headed it towards goal, but Anas did well to get back and clear off the line. The ball then looped up in the air for Keita, who was unchalleged, but he headed it over the goal from 4 yards. And then, just past the hour mark, they finally got their goal. It was a well-worked setpiece routine, as Francis Fernandes` free kick to the far post was headed across goal by Luciano, and Keita raced in to head it in from a yard out to deservedly equalize for Salgaocar. Salgaocar continued to dominate as both coaches brought on their substitutes, looking for a goal. Salgaocar stil looked the better side, and had yet another fantastic chance in the 72nd minute. A flat cross from the right made its way through a crowded Mumbai penalty area, and found Luciano unmarked at the far post, but the skipper could only hit the post with his shot from 5 yards! Kayne Vincent came on as a substitute for Basheeru just a minute later, and it was the New Zealander who made the difference in the game six minutes before the end. In virtually Mumbai`s only chance in the second half, he found himself in acres of space, and onside, from a chipped pass, and he coolly chipped the ball over the advancing Kalyan Chaubey to restore Mumbai`s lead. It was Gurpreet Singh who played the Kiwi onside, as he was hanging way behind the rest of the backline. Salgaocar looked deflated after the goal, and failed to create anything of note, as Mumbai held on to secure what was a lucky win, but a win nevertheless, and move up to 5th in the league table. Goalscorers: Mumbai FC - Gurpreet Singh o.g. (2`), Kayne Vincent (84`) Salgaocar Mandjou Keita (61`) Goal.com