Mumbai City Fc extended their unbeaten run in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2020-21 with a comfortable 3-1 win over Bengaluru FC at the Fatorda Stadium.
BFC squandered an early chance when Brown was set through on goal, but with just the keeper to beat, the 30-year-old fired over the crossbar.
Unlike BFC, Mumbai didn’t miss their chance and took the lead in the ninth minute. Bipin’s looped corner was headed across the goal by Hernan Santana. Fall leapt highest to nod the ball into the net. This was Fall’s tenth goal in the league – all of them headed – and he is just one goal away from equalling Chhetri’s record of 11 headed goals.
Mumbai doubled their lead with a perfect team goal which saw Santana and Le Fondre combine to find Mandar Rao Dessai on the flank. The full-back’s whipped cross found Bipin, who timed his run to get past his marker to score.
Mumbai were brilliant in attack while their defence was good enough to keep BFC at bay. Keeper Amrinder Singh did well to keep Cleiton Silva’s free-kick out of goal with a diving save as Mumbai maintained their two-goal lead at the break.
Mumbai City were unlucky to concede a penalty in the 78th minute when Silva was challenged in the box by Fall. Though the Senegalese appeared to have won the ball, the referee pointed towards the spot. Chhetri kept his composure and scored.
In the 84th minute, a howler from BFC keeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu restored Mumbai’s two-goal cushion. Ogbeche nodded in a Cy Goddard corner, which Gurpreet fumbled and let in.
Sergio Lobera’s men are now two points clear of ATK Mohun Bagan at the top, setting the stage perfectly for the much-anticipated clash between the two in six days’ time.
Bengaluru have had a poor record against Mumbai in the last two seasons. They have lost more games to the Islanders than any other team and are winless against them in the last two seasons. These two teams have played five matches in the last two seasons and the Islanders have won four times.
Cuadrat has work to do as the Blues looked lacklustre throughout the 90 minutes.
