Mumbai City FC kept their hopes of topping the 2020-21 Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) standings alive after an emphatic 6-1 win against Odisha FC at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim on Wednesday. Odisha FC started well after a successful Diego Mauricio penalty but a Bartholomew Ogbeche brace and a Bipin Singh hat-trick as well as a stunning Cy Goddard strike ensured that the Islanders go into their last match of the league phase against ATK Mohun Bagan on Sunday with a chance of clinching the League Winners Shield.

• Odisha FC took the lead after Diego Mauricio converted from the spot but Bartholomew Ogbeche equalised for Mumbai City FC.
• The Islanders then scored thrice in six minutes through Bipin Singh, Cy Goddard and Ogbeche towards the end of the first half.
• Bipin scored twice in the second half to become the first hat-trick scorer this season.

Mumbai City FC dominated possession early on but weren’t posing much of a goal threat before falling behind. Odisha FC went in front after just nine minutes as the referee pointed to the penalty spot for a foul on Jerry Mawihmingthanga. Mauricio stepped up and converted the spot kick after Amrinder Singh dived the right way but failed to keep out the ball.

The Islanders though struck back four minutes later courtesy of Ogbeche, who got in between two Odisha FC players and produced a bullet header from an Ahmed Jahouh freekick into the box. Mumbai City FC then nearly took the lead through Adam le Fondre in the 18th minute after the Englishman got into the box and saw his deflected effort lead to a goalmouth scramble that Odisha FC barely survived.

As it turned out, it was simply a matter of time before Mumbai City FC took the lead as they upped the ante and blitzed Odisha FC towards the end of the first half. Bipin scored the goal that gave the Islanders the lead in the 38th minute when he reacted quickest to dispatch a deflected Ogbeche shot that had made its way to the Indian winger in the box.

Mumbai City FC increased their lead five minutes later courtesy of another quality Jahouh set-piece that was headed into the net by Ogbeche again. They went on to score another goal before halftime thanks to Goddard, who produced a quality finish into the top corner after a half-cleared ball fell to him in the box.

The Islanders began the second half similar to how they ended the first as Ogbeche found Bipin with a pass into the box for the Indian winger to get a shot away and make it 5-1 for Mumbai City. Odisha FC tried to respond and Jerry had a chance in the 53rd minute but his powerful shot from the right side of the box ended up hitting the side-netting.

At the other end of the pitch, Bipin could have scored a perfect hat-trick just after the hour mark had he managed to keep his header off a cross from the right on target. The Islanders continued to attack for the remainder of the game, while Odisha FC struggled to make it out of their half.

Mumbai City FC could have scored their sixth in the 83rd minute after Vikram Partap Singh came off the bench and won them a penalty. Jahouh took the responsibility of taking the penalty and placed his shot towards the corner but the goalkeeper guessed correctly and dived to make the save. The Islanders did, however, cap off the night with a sixth goal shortly after through Bipin, who was in the right place at the right time to slot home an Arshdeep Singh save on the rebound and complete his hat-trick.

Hero of the Match – Bipin Singh

Bipin Singh was a real livewire for Mumbai City FC during their thumping win against Odisha FC. He became the first hat-trick scorer in Hero ISL 2020-21 after scoring once in the first half and twice in the second period to help his side register a confidence-boosting win.

Other Match Awards:

Club Award – Mumbai City FC

DHL Winning Pass of the Match – Ahmed Jahouh (Mumbai City FC)

Watch the Match Highlights here: