Mumbai City FC extended their unbeaten run in Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2020-21 to eight games after a 3-1 win against Bengaluru FC at the Fatorda Stadium on Tuesday. Mourtada Fall opened the scoring for the Islanders in the 9th minute and Bipin Singh doubled their advantage six minutes later. Sunil Chhetri scored a goal from the penalty spot for Bengaluru in the 79th minute but Bartholomew Ogbeche netted Mumbai’s third five minutes later. The Islanders ended the game with 10 men after Ahmed Jahouh was sent off for the second time this season.

• Goals from Mourtada Fall and Bipin Singh in the first 15 minutes put Mumbai in a strong position.
• Sunil Chhetri pulled one back from the penalty spot for Bengaluru, but substitute Bartholomew Ogbeche restored Mumbai’s’ two-goal lead.
• Ahmed Jahouh, with two yellow cards, was given his marching orders in the 86th minute.

Bengaluru had a big chance to score just two minutes into the contest when Cleiton Silva put Deshorn Brown through on goal. The Jamaican managed to get his shot away but failed to keep his effort on target. The Blues nearly worked another opportunity from a Dimas Delgado freekick in the 5th minute. The Spaniard’s set-piece into a dangerous area at the far post was met by Chhetri, whose cutback towards the six-yard box was cleared by Mumbai.

The Islanders then made Bengaluru pay for not being clinical enough shortly after. Mumbai’s opening goal came from a corner in the 9th minute after Hernan Santana rose high to head the ball towards Fall. Santana’s header took a deflection off Harmanjot Khabra before reaching Fall, who made no mistake as he leaped above his marker to nod the ball beyond the goalkeeper and give Mumbai the lead.

Adam le Fondre had a chance to score moments later courtesy of some fine build-up play by the Islanders. Hugo Boumous delicately clipped the ball forward for Bipin, who squared it to le Fondre only for the Englishman to see his shot blocked by Bengaluru’s defence.

However, Mumbai did double their lead in the 15th minute following more quality football. Mandar Rao Dessai turned provider with an exquisite cross into the box from the left that Bipin cushioned across the goalkeeper and into the back of the net to make it 2-0. The Islanders dominated a good part of the first half and had a few more chances to add to their lead.

The Blues, meanwhile, came close to scoring through a Kristian Opseth freekick that just sailed over the crossbar. Another direct freekick from a threatening area by Cleiton five minutes before halftime then forced Mumbai’s goalkeeper Amrinder Singh into a save. Chhetri also produced a tame header from a cross that went into the goalkeeper’s hands a minute before the halftime.

After a subdued start to the second period, it was Bengaluru that began playing with more intent and purpose as they looked to find a way back into the match. However, creating clear-cut chances were proving to be hard to come by.

The Blues were handed a lifeline 11 minutes from normal time when they earned a penalty after the referee blew his whistle for a Fall foul in the box on Cleiton. Chhetri stepped up to the spot and dispatched the ball to the left in emphatic fashion to halve the deficit.

Substitute Ogbeche then almost restored Mumbai’s two-goal advantage in the 82nd minute when his glancing header off a freekick hit the woodwork. However, Ogbeche did get his goal two minutes later through a header from a corner that Gurpreet failed to handle to make it 3-1 for the Islanders.

Mumbai finished the game with 10 men after Jahouh was sent off following a second bookable offence in the 86th minute but Bengaluru couldn’t make much of their man advantage as Sergio Lobera’s men negotiated the final minutes comfortably to secure another win.

Hero of the Match – Bipin Singh

Bipin Singh has been in scintillating form for Mumbai all season and he shone once again during their win over Bengaluru. Besides producing a sumptuous finish for the Islanders’ second goal of the night, he also created a chance and was a menace to the Blues throughout his time on the pitch.

Other Match Awards

Club Award – Mumbai City FC

DHL Winning Pass of the Match – Mandar Rao Dessai (Mumbai City FC)

Watch the Match Highlights here: