Steven Dias heroics helped Mumbai FC snatch a creditable 2-1 win against Shillong Lajong FC in a tense and crucial 16th round I-League encounter, at the Cooperage ground on Sunday evening.
The mercurial Dias with a brilliant effort converted from a 25-yard free kick in the 41st minute to give the home team a deserving 1-0 half-time advantage. The visitors managed to fight back and drew level when their Brazilain midfielder Fabio Pena scored from what a contentious penalty in the 55th minute. But Dias once again was the thick of action and with one of his trademark special delivery provided Min-Chol Son with the perfect header. The ball bounced in front of goalkeeper Vishal Kaith but he fumbled with a simple collection and allowed the ball to slip through much to the cheer of the home supporters.
Dias was later adjudged ‘Player of the match’ and received a cheque of Rs 10,000.
Mumbai FC desperate for a win started in right earnest and went on the offensive from the start. In the seventh they had two good chances to open the scoring. First Hitesh Sharma chases a ball and forces Lajong’s central defender Zodingliana in making a poor backpass. Taisuke intercepts the pass and advances into the box but hastily fires over and later Hitesh once again initiated a move down the middle and set up Jayesh Rane on the left. The latter switches the ball across for Eric Brown, whose first timed essay brushes the near upright and over the goalline.
At the other end, Fabio had two attempts at goal with the going wide across the goal and later his header narrowly missing the target in the 34th minute.
The Mumbai persistence finally paid off when Brown was brought down by Zodingliana a little outside the box and Dias stepped forward a coolly curled the ball over the Lajong wall and past the despairing dive from Kaith and into the top left corner.
The Mumbai side survived a threat early in the second half and then Dias was unlucky to watch another of his well-executed free-kick crash into the horizontal bar and from the rebound Isfaq Ahmed failed to score.
Shillong were lucky to restore partity when referee Venkatesh R. awarded them a penalty when Penn Orji fell after a tackle from defender Anwar Ali and Fabio successfully converted in the 55th minute.
Thereafter Mumbai FC came close to regaining the lead with Dias, Taisuke and Sushil missing the target before Son finally found the back of the net in the 86th minute. Following Dias’ flag-kick from the right Son did well to meet the end of the ball and head firmly. Goalkeeper Kaith made a total mess and let the ball slip in to the net.
Mumbai FC ensured their citadel stayed intact in the remaining time to snatch the win and three valuable points.
The Mumbai side have now climbed to the sixth position with 16 points while Lajong with 15 points move to the bottom of the nine-team standing.
Mumbai FC will now take on DSK Shivajians in the final round on April 24.
Results –Mumbai FC 1 (Steven Dias 41st, Min-Chol Son 86th) Beat Shillong Lajong 1 (Fabio Pena 55th)
Shillong Lajong XI: Chinglensana Singh, Pritam Singh, Rupert Nongrum, Samuel Shadap, Bipin Singh, Vishal Kaith, Boithang Haokip, Nimdorjee Tamang, Fabio Pena, Zondingliana and Penn Orji.
Mumbai FC XI: Hitesh Sharma, Taisuke Matsugae, Eric Brown, Allan Dias, Minchol Son, Steven Dias, Ashutosh Mehta, Anwar Ali, Jayesh Rane, Sushil Singh and Kunal Sawant.