MUMBAI, JAN 30
It was a day of missed chances for Mumbai FC as despite getting scoring chances to overpower their Goan opponents Salgaocar SC, they were unable to stop Karim Bencherifa’s boys as they faced a 0-1 defeat in the round twelve tie of the I-League at Sahu Maharaj ground on Sunday.
It was a very close call as both sides played well and were trying to get the better of each other. Lady luck was certainly not on Mumbai’s side today as they were unable to convert the chances that came their way. The Mumbai based side missed as many as eight chances which deprived them of three points.
Both the teams preferred the attacking approach but Salgaocar was successful in execution better in comparison to Mumbai.
Mumbai’s midfielder came close to score in the 23rd and 30th minute, but weren’t able to find the target. Sampath Kumar Kuttymani, who got a clear chance to put Khalid Jamil’s side ahead in the 32nd minute, missed the target.
It was upto Salgaocar’s man in-form, Ryuji Sueoka to break the deadlock and the Japanese midfielder made no mistake to put his side in front scoring in the 34th minute after collecting a pass from Yusuf Yakubu from the right flank.
Scoring opportunities continued to come in the hosts way, but they squandered one after another to end up empty handed.
Kuttymani came close to score the equaliser in the 60th minute, but to Mumbai’s despair, his shot hit the woodwork. Also Noel Wilson and Rodrigues might be cursing their ill luck as they were unable to score in the second half.
Even Salgaocar had a chance to increase their lead in the second half through Yakubu and Sueoka but they were unable to recreate the first half magic.
With this win Salgaocar are placed second in the points table with 27 points, while Mumbai remain on 20 points.
Salgaocar defender Irungbam Khelemba Meitei was adjudged the man-of-the-match for his clinical performance in the defence.
