Mumbai City FC concluded the Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2018-19 league season on the third place, subsequently qualifying for the semi-finals for the second time in their history. The Islanders had a tough time in the league last season, finishing third from bottom, and seven points off the final qualification birth. Since then, Jorge Costa has come in and quite diligently gone about his work, stamping his authority on the squad to make them noticeable and fearless again. Ahead of their upcoming semi-final first-leg against FC Goa, we take a brief look back at their season gone by.

Form over the season:

The beginning of a new era under a new head coach can go either way for a football club with methods taking their time to transform into habits and positive results. Costa’s beginning had the same rhetoric as Mumbai succumbed to a 0-2 loss at home to Jamshedpur FC in their first match. The team would then show glimpses of promise by holding Kerala Blasters FC to a draw before winning the season’s first Maharashtra Derby the following week.

Despite those positive results, there were signs that Costa’s philosophy hadn’t been embedded in the players’ mind as firmly as he would have hoped for. And the next match against FC Goa confirmed those concerns. Playing away, the Islanders were on the receiving end of a 0-5 humbling that put serious doubts in their ability to even compete, let alone challenge for the semi-finals.

The Portuguese was admittedly frustrated but chose not to slam his players either in public. That trust would be rewarded in sensational fashion as the Islanders, beginning with a 2-0 home win over Delhi Dynamos FC, went on a club-record nine-match unbeaten run that included seven wins, two draws and six clean sheets.

As a result, the semi-final was now within touching distance with just a couple of more wins required to make it a mathematical reality. However, Goa once again proved to be a bridge too far for Costa and Co. as they lost 0-2 at home and saw their run come to an end. Two more losses followed amidst hints of rising concern among the Mumbai ranks. Playing and needing all three points against fellow-hopefuls ATK in their penultimate fixture, the Islanders stepped up to the plate to rubberstamp their place in the final four.

Key Players

Modou Sougou

The 34-year-old Senegalese arrived in the Hero ISL only in August but plays as if he’s been here all his life. He has 12 goals from 16 matches that includes a four-goal haul against Kerala Blasters FC in mid-December. Sougou’s understanding with the likes of Paulo Machado and Arnold Issoko has grown over the course of the season and would be key in unlocking an improved Goa defence.

Arnold Issoko

A live-wire on the Islanders right, the fullback-turned-winger is probably uncatchable when on a run. The Congolese has six assists, the joint second-most, and three goals so far this season. His defensive work is equally important as Costa’s philosophy requires the winger’s to tuck-in and mark the opposing full-back. The 26-year-old has gone about that job just as honestly and would make a good case for the player of the year title.

Paulo Machado

Central to Mumbai’s ideas in the final third, Machado has excelled in his role behind the striker, using his delicate feet and clever passes to cause havoc among retreating defences. The playmaker has four assists and two goals so far this term with his involvement in most Mumbai goals a near certainty. Now facing an adventurous FC Goa unit, the Spaniard would be expected to feature heavily should the Islanders make it through.

Semi-finals fixtures:

Mumbai City FC vs FC Goa

Date: March 9, 2019

Venue: Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai

FC Goa vs Mumbai City FC

Date: March 12, 2019

Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Goa

Check the full fixtures list here.