ISL: Five star Mumbai rout Pune
Moritz nets ISL’s first hat-trick as Singh and Letzelter score a goal each
By : irfan haji
Update: 2014-10-19 00:34 GMT
Mumbai: Mumbai City FC put points on the board for the first time, outclassing FC Pune City 5-0 in an Indian Super League Maharashtra derby goalfest at D.Y. Patil Stadium in Nerul, here, on Saturday. Andre Francisco Moritz scored the ISL’s first hat-trick while Indian forward Singam Subash Singh and French defender Johan Letzelter scored a goal each to heap misery on David Trezeguet’s side. The hosts, led by Manuel Friedrich, defended well to keep a clean slate and make some amends after their 3-0 hammering from Atletico de Kolkata on the opening day.
Mumbai City FC made four changes to their starting XI. The changes seemed to work as they made a remarkable comeback in front of a vociferous home crowd. Defenders Deepak Mandal and Raju Gaikwad were replaced by Peter Costa and Nadong Bhutia while injured attacking midfielder Syed Rahim Nabi made way for Subash. Moritz started in place of Diego Nadaya.
Brazil-born Moritz who holds an Italian passport joined the team just a day ahead of the ISL opener and made instant impact in the first game after he came as a substitute. The 28-year-old forward along with Subash Singh added sting to the forwardline.Moritz got the first goal on a counter-attack after getting a long ball from Ralte. He unleashed a left footed scorcher towards right corner of the net that left Pune’s Italian goalkeeper Emanuele Belardi immobile in the 12th minute.
Moritz was celebrating again in the 27th minute after he taped in a volley from Ralte’s corner kick smartly to catch Belardi unawares again. Pune City’s defence, which had done so well against Delhi Dynamos, was in tatters on the day. India forward Subash (36th) got his name deservedly on the score sheet to send the hosts 3-0 up. Subash got a through ball from Jan Stohanzl and controlled it well to place the ball in.
After a frantic first half, the game was reduced to a midfield battle. The high moment came when Mumbai marquee player Fredrik Ljungberg, who missed the first game due to a niggle came on in the 68th minute, replacing Stohanzl. Moments later Moritz enlivened the crowd with the tournament’s first hat-trick. The Italian cashed on some fragile defending to find the right corner. Frenchman Johan Letzelter made it high fives for the home side when he found space in the box. The visitors had their moments but will want to forget this game quickly.