FC Goa and Mumbai City FC played out a hard-fought 0-0 draw in front of almost 19,000 fans at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Wednesday evening. Sunil Chettri had Mumbai’s best efforts of the match in both halves, while Julio Cesar’s shot in injury time was denied by Amrinder Singh in spectacular fashion. The draw saw Goa move off the bottom of Hero Indian Super League 2016, while Mumbai rose to second.

Mumbai registered their first shot four minutes into the game as Chhetri tried his luck with a left-footed shot from outside the box that tested Laxmikanth Kattimani in goal. It was a sign of things to come with the visitors dominating the ball in the opening exchanges.

Goa’s first chance came in the 22nd minute after a lightning quick break released local boy Romeo Fernandes on the right. The pacey winger’s shot, however, was wide of the target and failed to test Singh in Mumbai’s goal.

Chhetri found Diego Forlan five minutes later with an exquisite pass that made its way to Mumbai’s Uruguayan talisman on the edge of the box. Forlan’s shot on goal though was well-blocked courtesy of a strong tackle by Gregory Arnolin.

Sony Norde was next to try his luck for Mumbai but his attempt from distance in the 37th minute was well wide of the goal. Forlan then had an effort of his own from range a minute later, which forced Kattimani into conceding a corner. The hosts started seeing more of the ball towards the closing stages of the half but failed to create any clear-cut chances as the sides went into the break having failed to break the deadlock.

Goa started the second half on the front and notched up four corners inside the opening seven minutes after piling on some early pressure. A Forlan set-piece then set up a clear header for Gerson Vieira in the 56th minute but the Brazilian defender headed above the crossbar.

The visitors had a golden opportunity of making the breakthrough in the 62nd minute after Forlan capitalised on an error by Arnolin before squaring for Chhetri. Mumbai’s top-scorer last season missed his initial shot on goal and then saw his second bite at the cherry blocked by Goa’s defence.

Forlan went through on goal three minutes later and looked like he had scored the game’s opener when he guided the ball beyond an outrushing Kattimani. The ball was trickling into the net and required the intervention of a retrieving Arnolin to clear the danger.

Goa’s next chance went to Robin Singh in the 78th minute with substitute Cesar playing a beautiful ball out to the left to find Mandar Rao Dessai, who whipped in a good cross into the box. Mumbai’s backline managed to do just about enough as Robin’s effort went behind for a goal-kick.

Chhetri came close to scoring the winner for Mumbai seven minutes from full-time with another left-footed strike that was goal-bound. However, Kattimani was again equal to the task for Goa between the sticks as he tipped Chettri’s attempt behind for a corner.

The last chance of the game went the home side’s way with substitutes Trindade Goncalves and Cesar combining brilliantly to carve open Mumbai’s defence. Trindade played Cesar in on goal but Amrinder produced an excellent save low to his right as it ended goalless at full-time.

Match Awards:

Club award: Shared by both clubs

Amul Fittest Player of the Match: Gerson Vieira

DHL Winning Pass of the Match: Krisztian Vadocz

Maruti Suzuki Swift Moment of the Match: Laxmikanth Kattimani

ISL Emerging Player of the Match: Romeo Fernandes

Hero of the Match: Rafael Coelho