Mumbai City outplay Odisha FC with the help of Igor Angulo and Bipin Singh
Mumbai City FC have managed to move into the top four spots in the Hero Indian Super League 2021-22 (ISL) with an emphatic 4-1 win over Odisha FC at the PJN Stadium in Margao, Goa on Sunday.
Igor Angulo (41’, 70’) and Bipin Singh (47’, 73’) netted a brace each to put Islanders 4-0 in front before Jonathas (90’) grabbed a late consolation goal for Odisha FC.
The win means Mumbai City FC are now unbeaten in their last four matches in which they have picked up eight points.
Mumbai City FC bossed possession in the opening exchanges but had few clear-cut chances to show for it while Odisha FC looked to catch the defending champions on the break albeit unsuccessfully.
The first opening of the match though fell to Kino Sanchez’s men as Javi Hernandez and Jerry Mawhimingthanga combined well to allow the latter a shot on goal that was well saved by Mohammad Nawaz just after the half-hour mark.
The Odisha FC duo combined again as Hernandez laid it on a plate for Jerry to score a tap-in at the far post but Mehtab Singh averted the danger with a heroic last-ditch intervention in the 35th minute to keep the score at 0-0.
Mumbai City FC then punished Odisha FC for their missed chances in the 41st minute when Angulo headed them in front from a pinpoint cross from Rahul Bheke who was set free on the flanks by Ahmed Jahouh from a free-kick that he chose to take short.
Odisha FC had the chance to level the score a minute before the interval when Victor Moungil had a free header inside the box from a corner but couldn’t keep it on target.
Mumbai City FC went into the break with their noses in front as Odisha FC were made to rue their missed chances.
The Islanders added to their opponent’s frustration when they doubled the lead two minutes into the second half through Bipin Singh who calmly slotted into the back of the net after getting on the end of a Jahouh cutback.
Aridai Suarez and Gaurav Bora entered the fray for Odisha FC with an aim to turn things around but the changes came slightly late for Odisha FC as Mumbai City FC had gained full control of the match.
The Islanders made the dominance in the second half count as they scored the third goal in the 70th minute through Angulo who beat Arshdeep Singh in the Odisha FC goal with a clever chip that left the goalkeeper for dead. The excellent finish meant Angulo became the second player in Hero ISL this season to enter double digits in terms of the goals scored.
The Islanders then made it worse for Odisha FC when Bipin who was the provider for Angulo’s second got on the scoresheet again to make it 4-0.
Des Buckingham made the changes as he took off key men like Jahouh towards the end of the match to preserve him for the rest of the games. Odisha FC then took advantage and scored a late consolation goal through Jonathas who continued his good goalscoring form.
However, it was a case of too little and too late for Odisha FC as they went down 1-4.
The defeat means they stay seventh in the table, four points behind their fourth-placed opponents having played a game more.
They return to action on Wednesday when they face Chennaiyin FC. As for Mumbai City FC, their next assignment is a crucial game against fellow semi-final hopefuls Jamshedpur FC on Thursday.