New Delhi: Mumbai FC's I-League campaign in the New Year started with a bang as they downed Mohammedan Sporting 3-0 at the Cooperage Stadium, Mumbai in a postponed 11th round match.
First half strikes from Riston Rodrigues, Kalia Kulothungan and another by substitute Abhishek Yadav after the break piled the misery on the visiting side.
David Booth's men have 19 points from 11 games while Mohammedan continues to rot in the 11th spot with nine points.
It was the match of the two promoted sides with Mumbai FC going for Abel Hammond and Felix Aboagye upfront while Mohammedan started with a sweeper in Madhab Das.The first attempt on target was when Riston Rodrigues free-kick was saved by Mohammedan custodian Tharangachan for a corner.
Mumbai FC's backline did look a bit shaky in the absence of James Dissiramah due to suspension as a misjudgment by Selywn Fernandes almost allowed Jothi Kumar to score. Selwyn recovered but the ball went as far as Okoro whose cross from the left was cleared on time.
The 25th minute saw Mumbai FC coach David Booth bring in striker Abhishek Yadav for left winger Aseem K. The move looked very ambitious but it paid dividends in the end.
At the half hour mark, Kulothungan committed a needless foul and the resultant free-kick by Adebayo saw Amit Singha Roy dive to his left to keep his side from going down. Sanjay Parte's cross saw Tharangachan fumble but collected before Abhishek could make him pay.
The goal came for Mumbai FC in the 35th minute with Abel Hammond laying the ball for Riston Rodrigues whose 25 yarder found the back of the net.
It was one of the finest examples of deft placement. Nine minutes later, they doubled their lead. A Sanjay Parte floated free-kick saw Hammond's header go for Kulothungan standing al alone ith the goal at his mercy. The midfielder did enough to add his name on the scoresheet.
Mohammedan coach Shabbir Ali made two quick substitutions throwing in two strikers in Suraj Mondal and Vimal Pariyar. A Kamaljeet Singh corner saw Abhishek Yadav's header under pressure go straight towards the Mohammedan goalkeeper Tharangachan around the hour mark.
Mohammedan had an opportunity when Mike Okoro's cross from the left was put over the bar from close range by Vimal Pariyar. Mumbai boy Abhishek Yadav scored the best goal of the match with his diving shot under pressure from substitute Bijoy Das off an Abel Hammond cross hitting the inside of the post and going in.
The match ended with the same scoreline and thus giving Mumbai FC their second consecutive victory in the I-League.
Mohammedan need to put in more concrete performances if they have any hopes of saving relegation.
Goalscorers Mumbai FC: Riston Rodrigues (35th min), Kalia Kulothungan (44th min) and Abhishek Yadav (74th min)
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