Mumbai City FC saw their historic 18-game unbeaten run this Hero Indian Super League (ISL) season finally come to an end as they went down to Bengaluru FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Thursday.

With two league games to go, the newly-crowned Hero ISL League Shield winners were close to ensuring an unbeaten end to their campaign, a feat never achieved before the Hero ISL, but ended up on the losing side in their 19th game of the season.  

Despite the defeat to Bengaluru FC, the Islanders have registered a stunning tally of 46 points from 19 games, including 14 victories. Mumbai City FC have already set multiple records this season, including a new feat for the longest unbeaten record in a single Hero ISL season.

With that, we take a look at their unbeaten run this campaign:

Match 1. Hyderabad FC 3-3 Mumbai City FC – 9 October 2022

The unbeaten run of Mumbai City FC started with a six-goal thriller against reigning Hero ISL champions Hyderabad FC as the game ended in a 3-3 draw in the opening week of the Hero ISL 2022-23 campaign.

Alberto Noguera’s 85th-minute equaliser sealed a point for the visitors as Hyderabad FC threw away their lead twice in the game.

Mumbai City FC went ahead in the 23rd-minute, courtesy of an own goal from Chinglensana Singh. Greg Stewart reduced the deficit for the Islanders in the second half. For Hyderabad FC, skipper Joao Victor scored twice and Halicharan Narzary scored the remainder goal.

Match 2. Mumbai City FC 2-0 Odisha FC – 15 October 2022

Mumbai City FC secured their first win of the season when they hosted Odisha FC in Matchweek 2. This was the first Hero ISL game at the Mumbai Football Arena in almost three years.

The game was evenly poised at the half-time break at 0-0, but a rejuvenated Mumbai City FC side took the field in the second half. It took them only five minutes to go ahead in the game through an own goal from Shubham Sarangi. Bipin Singh made it 2-0 for the Islanders in added time.

Match 3. Mumbai City FC 1-1 Jamshedpur – 22 October 2022

The Islanders once again dropped points after being held by a resilient Jamshedpur FC side.

Des Buckingham’s side started the game well and it all seemed to be going according to their plan after Lallianzuala Chhangte slotted the ball into the net early on. But it took the Red Miners only four minutes to get the all-important equaliser against a dominant Mumbai City FC side. Daniel Chima Chukwu headed the ball in at the far post after Harry Sawyer flicked it onto him from a long throw-in.

Match 4. Kerala Blasters FC 0-2 Mumbai City FC – 28 October 2022

In their second away game of the season, Mumbai City FC registered a comfortable victory over Kerala Blasters FC in a pulsating atmosphere at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in Kochi.

Mumbai City FC, yet again, dominated the game from the beginning and took the lead through centre-back Mehtab Singh. Jorge Pereyra Diaz scored against his former side with a composed finish in the 31st minute of the game to give the Islanders a two-goal cushion. Mumbai City FC’s defence managed to stave off pressure from the home side in the second half to return home with three points.

Match 5. Mumbai City FC 2-2 ATK Mohun Bagan – 6 November 2022

Mumbai City FC were held to a draw against ATK Mohun Bagan in a thrilling contest, as the Islanders failed to secure three points against the 10-man Mariners.

Lallianzuala Chhangte scored a stunner early on to give his side the lead in the game. Finnish midfielder Joni Kauko equalized for the visitors in the early stages of the second half before Mumbai City FC took the lead again through Rostyn Griffiths in the 72nd minute. Just two minutes later, the Mariners went down to 10 men after Lenny Rodrigues received his marching orders. However, despite the numerical disadvantage, ATK Mohun Bagan equalised through Carl McHugh at the death to snatch one point from the game.

Match 6. Chennaiyin FC 2-6 Mumbai City FC – 12 November 2022

The Islanders rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat Chennaiyin FC in an eight-goal thriller.

Mumbai City FC had a slow start to the game as they went down 0-2 in the opening half. Petar Sliskovic and Abdenasser El Khayati found the back of the net for Marina Machans before Jorge Pereyra Diaz reduced the margin for the visitors. Greg Stewart equalised from the spot at the stroke of half-time. The second-half was all about Mumbai City FC as they scored four more goals through Vinit Rai, Vignesh Dakshinamurthy, Alberto Noguera, and Bipin Singh.

Match 7. Mumbai City FC 4-0 Bengaluru FC – 17 November 2022

In Matchweek seven, Mumbai City FC recorded a thumping 4-0 victory over Bengaluru FC to extend their unbeaten run to seven games.

Des Buckingham’s men started the game on the front foot and broke the deadlock through Jorge Pereyra Diaz. A second goal for the Islanders’ followed just at the half-hour mark, thanks to a composed finish by Lalengmawia Ralte. The hosts continued their dominance after the restart as they scored two more goals through Bipin Singh and Lallianzuala Chhangte.

Match 8. NorthEast United FC 1-3 Mumbai City FC – 25 November 2022

Mumbai City FC traveled to Guwahati for their next game where they registered their third win on the trot, beating the Highlanders.

Mumbai City FC took an early lead again in the 10th minute of the game through a spot kick that was convincingly converted by Ahmed Jahouh. The Highlanders equalised quickly from a fine strike by Parthib Gogoi. Bipin Singh soon restored the lead for the visitors before Jorge Pereyra Diaz scored the third and final goal of the game in added time of the first half.

Match 9. Mumbai City FC 4-1 FC Goa – 1 December 2022

Mumbai City FC cruised past FC Goa at home to extend their lead at the top of the Hero ISL table.

The Islanders, once again, started the game with an aggressive approach and this momentum led to their opening goal in the 17th minute when Jorge Pereyra Diaz calmly slotted the ball past FC Goa goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh. Iker Guarrotxena capitalised on a mistake from the Mumbai City FC custodian Phurba Lachenpa to bring the Gaurs back into the game. However, Des Buckingham’s side continued to put the pressure on FC Goa. The home side took the lead again in the 43rd minute through Lallianzuala Chhangte. Pereyra Diaz and Alberto Noguera stretched the lead for Mumbai City FC in the second half to cap off another incredible win.

Match 10. East Bengal FC 0-3 Mumbai City FC - 16 December 2022

Stephen Constantine’s men were left reeling as Mumbai City FC went past East Bengal FC 3-0 to regain the top spot in the ISL.

The Islanders were a dominant force over the Kolkata side from the first whistle as they took the lead in the 26^th minute when Lalengmawia Ralte beat the offside trap to slot it past the keeper. Greg Stewart doubled the lead in the second half before Ralte bagged his second goal of the night.

Match 11. Mumbai City FC 2-1 Chennaiyin FC – 24 December 2022

The Islanders hosted Chennaiyin FC on Christmas Eve where they came from a goal down to grab their sixth consecutive win of the season.

The visitors took the lead in the game through Petar Sliskovic after the half-hour mark. But their lead didn’t last long, as Lallianzuala Chhangte scored a sumptuous volley to level the scores. It was Greg Stewart who scored the much-needed winning goal just before the hour mark. With this win, Mumbai City FC ended 2022 as the league leaders and extended their unbeaten run to eleven games.

Match 12. Odisha FC 2-4 Mumbai City FC – 2 January 2023

Mumbai City FC recorded yet another stellar victory against Odisha FC, in what was a goalfest at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.

Lallianzuala Chhangte broke the deadlock in the second half and Odisha FC scored an equalizer soon, thanks to a brilliant effort from Diego Mauricio. Bipin Singh restored the lead for Mumbai City FC before Chhangte and Alberto Noguera scored two more for the visitors. Mauricio tried to regain some pride with his second goal of the match in the added time, but couldn’t get the better of the Islanders.

This win also put an end to Odisha FC’s unbeaten record at home this season.

Match 13. Mumbai City FC 4-0 Kerala Blasters FC – 8 January 2023

Kerala Blasters FC came into this game with an eight-game unbeaten run, but their record was crushed by the Islanders as they registered another stylish victory at home.

Mumbai City FC went up 4-0 inside the first 22 minutes. It took the home side just four minutes to go ahead in the game as Jorge Pereyra Diaz slotted past the keeper. Six minutes later, Greg Stewart doubled their lead. The hosts piled more misery on the Blasters as Bipin Singh scored the third goal for the home side with a beautiful curler into the right top corner before Pererya Diaz scored another one.

Match 14. ATK Mohun Bagan 0-1 Mumbai City FC – 14 January 2023

Mumbai City FC secured their 11th win of the season with a gritty victory at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.

Lallianzuala Chhangte scored a terrific goal from the edge of the box that zipped past the ATK Mohun Bagan custodian, Vishal Kaith, in the first half. The Mariners put on a fight in the second half and tested Mumbai City FC keeper Lachenpa on multiple occasions, but couldn’t breach the MCFC defence.

Match 15. Mumbai City FC 4-0 NorthEast United FC – 19 January 2023

The Islanders were all over NorthEast United FC from the first whistle as they thoroughly dominated the Highlanders on their home turf.

Goals from Ahmed Jahouh, Jorge Pereyra Diaz, Greg Stewart, and Vinit Rai in the first half assured them their tenth successive win of the season. The away side played the second half with 10 men as their captain Wilmar Jordan picked a red card in the dying minutes of the first half. This was the second time in three games Mumbai City FC scored four goals in the opening half.

Match 16. Jamshedpur FC 1-2 Mumbai City FC – 27 January 2023

Mumbai City FC displayed solidarity and leadership as they overcame Jamshedpur FC in a thrilling 2-1 victory at the Furnace.

The Red Miners took an unexpected lead into the game through Boris Singh after the hour mark. Jamshedpur FC were on the verge of handing Mumbai City FC their first defeat of the season, but Des Buckingham made notable changes to their gameplay. Lallianzuala Chhangte and Vikram Singh both found the back of the net, as the visitors displayed a superb fighting spirit in the final ten minutes of the game to extend their unbeaten run in the league to 16 games.

Match 17. Mumbai City FC 1-1 Hyderabad FC  – 4 February 2023

In what was a crucial game in the fight for the League Winners Shield, Mumbai City FC and Hyderabad FC split the points in a hard-fought draw at the Mumbai Football Arena.

The first half was a cagey affair, but Mumbai City FC found themselves ahead thanks to a goal from Jorge Diaz. They continued to create chances, but Hyderabad FC scored against the run of play with Hitesh Sharma getting on the scoresheet.

Both sides threw kitchen sink in search of the winner, but neither could find the decisive goal as Mumbai City FC strengthened their lead at the top. 

Match 18. FC Goa 3-5 Mumbai City FC  – 11 February 2023

Another high scoring game of the season produced thrill and drama, as Mumbai City FC got the better of FC Goa in an eight-goal thriller.

The Gaurs took a surprise lead through Noah Sadaoui and Brandon Fernandes scored later again, but Mumbai City FC headed into the break leading 3-2 after Greg Stewart’s brace and a goal from Jorge Pereya Diaz. Goals from Chhangte and Vikram Partap Singh put the game beyond FC Goa’s reach despite Brison Fernandes’ goal at the death.