Mumbai: FC Goa registered their first win in this edition of the Indian Super League with a facile 1-0 win over Mumbai City FC at the Mumbai Football Arena here on Friday. Brazilian midfielder Richarlyson Felisbino scored the winner late in the first half to give his side a lift after their poor start to the tournament. The Gaurs, however, remain at the bottom of the table with four points in five games and Mumbai City also keep their second place with eight points in six games.
Making a comeback after missing three games due to an injury, Diego Forlan looked in good spirits hugging rival coach Zico before the start of the game but he failed to inspire the team despite playing full time. Mumbai City were on the charge from the start and dominated in the first half hour. Lalhmangaihsanga put some nice volleys forward and the trio of Forlan, Sony Norde and Matias Defederico gave under-pressure Goan defence some anxious moments but goalkeeper Subhasish Roy Chowdhury was hardly tested.
Goa relied on physical play and long balls but hardly created any threatening chances in the first half until Lalhmangaih-sanga fouled Keenan Almeida near the right edge of goaline in the 41st minute. Felisbino came up with powerful first time volley from top of the penalty box on Julio Cesar’s smartly taken free-kick to find the underside of cross bar and the ball rolled into the net giving goalkeeper Roberto Volpato no chance.
Goa had a chance to double the lead in the opening minute of the second half but striker Robin Singh missed a sitter near the goal post. On the counter, Forlan made an ambitious aim from long range but he was well off target like his four free-kicks in the match. The hosts, already missing talismanic defender Anwar Ali due to an injury, had a forced substitution as Pronay Halder pulled his hamstring in the 52nd minute and defence looked more brittle. Halder was substituted by attacking midfielder Jackichand Singh. Seven minutes later Mumbai City’s best performing player in the tournament so far, Defederico also struggled with a hamstring and was substituted by Brazilian Otacilio Brito Alves (Cafu) as the hosts’ problems compounded.
Goan midfielder Pratesh Shirodkar was the third forced substitution of the match as the players seemed to find conditions hard to cope.
