Mumbai City FC (MCFC) looked in great form ahead of the second season of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) as they thrashed Air India 7-0 in a practice match at the Cooperage Football Ground in Mumbai on Wednesday. Haitian striker Sony Norde stole the show with a brilliant hat-trick.MCFC, who boast the likes of former France hitman Nicolas Anelka and Sunil Chhetri – to name a few – opened their account in the seventh minute of the game through Indian midfielder Brandon Fernandes.However, it took MCFC a while to get their second. Norde, who is on loan from Hero I-League powerhouse Mohun Bagan, hit the back of the net in the 34th minute to break the spell. Fernandes’ second strike four minutes later took MCFC into the break leading 3-0.Four more goals were heaped on Air India in the second half. Two came through Norde in quick time in the 56 and 58th minutes.Anelka, MCFC’s marquee coach-cum-player, and Subhash Singh scored the next two goals in the 77th and 86th minutes respectively to make it a brilliant outing for their team. MCFC, who finished seventh in the league stage last season, will open their ISL Season 2 campaign on October 5 against hosts FC Pune City at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium.
