Mumbai: A 10-man strong Mumbai FC defended resolutely to force a 1-1 draw with Pune FC in the Maharashtra Derby, a 9th round I-League match, played under floodlights at the Cooperage ground on Sunday. Mumbai FC is sponsored by Playwin.
Mumbai FC, the lone club from the city participating in this premier club competition, have now extended their unbeaten run to six games, after defeats in the opening three games. They continue to stay in 6th place with 12 points from 3 wins and an equal number of draws from 9 matches.
Pune with 16 points move down to third place behind leaders Mohun Bagan (18 points), who beat Dempo SC 2-0 earlier in the day, and second-placed Bengaluru FC with 17 points.
Mumbai FC’s industrious medio Sampath Kuttymani in a moment of frustration kicked his Pune FC counterpart Ganesh Dhanpal off the ball and referee Tejas Nagvenkar sent him back to the dressing by showing him a direct red card in the 29th minute.
The home team who were without their key striker Josimar Da Silva suspended due to two yellow cards and midfielder Jayesh Rane attending the India Under-23 camp, started with the lanky Abhishek Yadav in the front and Dane Pereira in the midfield. They also included Paresh Shivalkar in place of Mohammed Rafi.
The home team grabbed the initiative with an early strike which caught the visitors off guard. Mumbai’s FC most influential and enterprising Japanese midfielder put his team ahead with a peach of an effort in the very fifth minute of the match. The Japanese recruit, who is the driving force behind the team, spotted the rival goalkeeper Arup Debnath way off his line and showed excellent presence of mind by attempting a snap long shot from yards inside his own half. The ball sailed over the outstretched hands of Debnath who despite lunging backwards could not prevent the ball from dipping into the goal.
Taisuke’s outstanding effort came in for praise from both the coaches. “Taisuke’s goal was very good goal. He showed good clever thinking which made the goal,” Pune FC’s Moroccan coach Karim Bencherifa said at the post match press conference.
Mumbai FC coach Khalid Jamil mentioned that Taisuke’s goal was brilliant and described it as a world class goal.
Pune FC who had the advantage of an extra man, were all over the rival territory but were unable to break through the compact Mumbai FC defence. On the few occasions when they managed to break through they found goalkeeper A.C. Nidhin Lal a hard nut to crack. The Mumbai goalkeeper with some excellent anticipation made a number of saves from the visitors, especially their foreign recruits Izumi Arata, Edgar Marcelino and Darko Nikac to ensure his citadel was not troubled too much. Taisuke also came to the team’s rescue with a goalline save just before the half-time whistle.
In the second half the visitors went flat out as they repeatedly made forays towards the rival goal as they pressed hard to find the equaliser. However, they were denied from having a clear look at goal by some robust defending by the Mumbai FC back four and midfielders. The visitors found success when wing back Raju Yumnam finally beat goalkeeper Nidhin Lal with a rasping volley from the left corner of the box in the 77th minute.
Before that goal, Mumbai FC from a couple of counter-attacks came close to scoring the second goal. Substitute Milagres Gonsalves and Pradeep Mohanraj had the opportunities to find the target.
In the remaining time, including 6 minutes of additional period, Mumbai FC showed great resilience to hold for a creditable draw.
“I don’t think that it was a red card,” Jamil mentioned after the match. “After that we were forced to go on the defensive. But I still believe that we could have won even with a man short,” he further said.
Bencherifa said that he is happy with the outcome of the match. “We were in control for majority of the time. I’m happy with my players,” said the Moroccan.
Result
Mumbai FC 1 (Taisuke Matasunge 5th) drew with Pune FC 1 (Raju Yumnam 77th).
