FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Bartholomew Ogbeche scored a 69th minute stunner to help Mumbai City FC price their supremacy over ATK Mohun Bagan with a 1-0 in the Indian Super League match played at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Monday.
Islanders now are five points clear at the top ahead of second placed ATK Mohun Bagan. Mumbai also extend their unbeaten run to nine games. Ogbeche’s goal is also the first from an open play Antonio Habas’ side conceded this season.
Sergio Lobera made a surprise change naming Ogbeche ahead on Adam Levine’s Fondre while Cy Goddard came in for the suspended Ahmed Jahouh. Meanwhile, ATKMB made three changes with Glan Martins, Manvir Singh starting the match along with Javier Hernandez, who made a comeback after last featuring against Odisha on December 3.
Lobera’s side started with what they are best known for— attacked from the word go.
They enjoyed maximum possession and should have been up by a goal as they had two good chances in the first quarter but both the times, Arindam Bhattacharja was there to keep ATK Mohun Bagan in the game.
First Hugo crashed his shot straight to the keeper when he was fed by Mandar Rao Dessai. Later Mumbai nearly took the lead but Arindam came with a goal line save to deny Ogbeche.
The match was proving to be attack vs defend as Mumbai’s threatened Mohun Bagan forcing them to defend throughout. But in the second half they came stronger with Edu Garcia testing Amrinder Singh forcing the Mumbai keeper to pull a diving save from a freekick. Later Garcia was set on goal by Pranoy Halder but his shot hit the frame, that was the best chance for Antonio Habas side.
Mumbai finally managed to get past Arindam in the 69th minute and it Ogbeche with a brilliant finish that gave Mumbai City a deserved lead. It was Hugo Boumous once again with yet another assist for his side when he played one-two with Santana and then back heeled to Ogbeche, who made his run, and the last name curled in to the top right corner.
In the final minutes of the game, Mumbai displayed defensive brilliance too. They managed to frustrate Antonio Habas attack which nearly got the equaliser. Mourtada Fall stood tall late in the game with vital blocks to deny Sandesh Jhingan and David Williams from finding the equaliser for ATK Mohun Bagan.
