Mumbai FC were unfortunate not to snatch all the three points as they were held to a fighting 2-2 draw by Aizawl FC in a round 11 I-League 2015-16 match, at the Cooperage ground, on Wednesday evening.
Mumbai FC’s Jayesh Rane (left) vie for the ball with Aizawl captain David Lalrinmuana during their 11th round I-League match at the Cooperage ground on Wednesday.
Mumbai FC, twice grabbed the lead, but the visitors did well to fight back and with a bit of lucky managed to draw level on both occasions and force a division of two points.
Ryuki Kozawa scored a penalty in the third minute and Eric Brown scored from a free kick in the 57th minute for Mumbai FC. Aizawl got their goals through Albert Zohmingmawia in the 19th minute and an own goal, courtesy Mumbai FC defender Syed Rahim Nabi in the 63rd minute.
Mumbai FC, who are unbeaten in six home games; having won two and drawn the other four, have now moved to the fifth position. The Mumbai team now has 11 points from 10 games, the same as Shillong Lajong, who lost to Bengaluru FC at home today. Aizawl with nine points from 10 games are in seventh place below Lajong; who dropped to sixth place.
The home side grabbed the advantage early in the game when their Japanese recruit Ryuki Kozawa converted a penalty kick smashing the ball low to the right of Aizawl goalkeeper Zothanmawia, in the very third minute. From their first good foray into the rival territory, Clifford Miranda, who was making his debut, weaved his way down the left flank and sent a swerving shot across goal. Kowaza on the right side of the box picked up the ball and chipped towards goal.
Aizawl defender Ugochukwu Chigozie in an attempt to avert danger was caught unaware and handled the ball inside the area. Referee Venkatesh R. promptly pointed to the penalty spot.
The visitors quickly responded scoring the equalizer 15 minutes later when Albert Zohmingmawia, was lucky to win the ball back from three successive tackles. He then managed to break free and dispatch the ball past Mumbai FC goalkeeper Sanjiban Ghosh to bring the cheer to the fairly large number of Mizoram supporters in the stands.
Thereafter, Mumbai FC had two good chances to regain the lead. First Eric Brown did well to provide Darren Caldeira with a free header, but the latter weakly headed straight into the hands of goalkeeper Zothanmawia much to the dismay of his teammates in the 35th minute. Later, Miranda intercepted a pass in the middle of the field and punted the ball forward for Kozawa, who charged ahead and showed a clean pair of heels to the rival defenders as he advanced into box. He cut back, but could only manage a shot which sailed narrowly over the horizontal in the 42nd minute.
After switching ends, Mumbai FC coach Khalid Jamil introduced Sushil Kumar Singh for Cletus Paul and brought back Eric Brown to his regular midfield position. The Mumbai side now looked more equipped to curb the free-flowing attacks from the visitors.
Mumbai FC, once again took the lead when Brown scored from a free kick in the 57th minute. His low shot from the right side whizzed past the wall and bounced in front of goal before kissing the near upright and deflecting into goal catching goalkeeper Zothanmawia on the wrong foot.
But, six minutes later dame fortune smiled of the Aizawl outfit as they managed to level the scores for the second time in the game. This time Albert lobs the ball into the penalty area and Syed Rahim Nabi, who had replaced Clyde Fernandes in the first half, was a tad unfortunate to mis-kick the ball which brushed goalkeeper Ghosh and nestled into the corner of the net.
Even though Aizawl mounted a series of raids towards the Mumbai goal they were unable to convert the chances and at the other end the home team twice came close to finding the winner. The best attempt came from Brown whose snap 40-yard rasping drive completely beat the entire defence and the goalkeeper, but to his and the team’s disappointment it bounced back off the upright.
With neither team able to find the net in the remaining period the match finished in a 2-2 draw.
In the next round Mumbai FC will travel to Goa to take on Salgaocar SC at the Tilak Maidan ground, Vasco on Saturday, March 5.
Result: Mumbai FC (Ryuki Kozawa 3rd, Eric Brown 57th)
Aizawl FC (Albert Zohmingmawia 19th, Syed Rahim Nabi-OG 63rd). Man of the match: David Lalrinmuana (Aizawl FC).