ISL 2022-23, Mumbai City FC vs East Bengal FC Highlights: EBFC Defeat MCFC 1-0

FULLTIME!

The referee brings the game to a close and East Bengal have managed to pull off a major upset here at the Mumbai Football Arena.

EBFC’s Mahesh Singh scored the solitary goal of the game to give Stephen Constantine’s torchbearers a 1-0 win over Des Buckingham’s islanders.

MCFC 0-1 EBFC

The fourth official signals for five minutes to be added on to regulation 90.

Mumbai have a chance to level from the corner as Fall gets his head to the ball in from Borges.

He gets enough power on it, but his effort goes wide of the mark.

SAVE!

The keepers have come up big today.

Mahesh plays the ball across the face of the goal to the onrushing VP Suhair.

Suhair opts for power and strikes one with venom, but the charging Phurba Lachenpa rushes off his line to make a crucial save.

MCFC 0-1 EBFC

Fall recycles the ball after an MCFC attack is staved off by the EBFC backline.

Fall crosses the ball into the box for Nongtu, who directs the ball towards the goal.

However, his effort lacks power and Kamaljit collects the ball without much fuss.

SAVE!

Mahesh tries to swing a cross in from the left, but his attempt flies towards the goal with some real power behind it.

MCFC keeper Phurba Lachenpa stands strong to palm the ball out and keep the hosts in the game.

SAVE!

MCFC Nongtu’s produces an acrobatic effort to get a shot away from inside the box. His shot beats two defenders and goes goal-bound, but the EBFC keeper Kamaljit Singh comes up with another great save to keep his side ahead.

Jervis is played in behind the defence by a great long ball.

The Brit brings the ball down well and tries to get past his maker, but the home team get back in numbers to thwart the move.

GOAL!

We have the first goal of the game and it is the visitors who score.

Mahesh Singh receives the ball inside the box following a brilliant dummy by Suhair after Cleiton Silva plays the cross in, and the 23-year-old puts the ball past MCFC keeper to give his team the lead.

MCFC 0-1 EBFC

SECOND HALF!

The teams come out to the field with the words of their managers still ringing in their ears.

Who will get the all-important opener in this game?

MCFC 0-0 EBFC

HALF TIME!

The referee blows his whistle to bring the first period to an end and both teams head into the tunnel with the scores at nil-nil.

MCFC 0-0 EBFC

MCFC link up well to find the onrushing Borges.

He takes a touch before striking the ball sweetly with the outer part of his foot, but Sarthak gets a deft touch on the attempt and the ball comes out after hitting the post.

The visitors move the ball well to find Cleiton Silva just outside the penalty box.

The Brazilian, with the back to the goal, controls the ball, swirls around and lets one fly, but his attempt is blocked by Fall.

The torchbearers try to recycle the ball from out in the right, but Sarthak’s cross is cleared away by the MCFC back line.

EBFC custodian Kamaljit Singh produces a brilliant save to keep the scoreboard level.

Chhangte lets one fly from the edge of the box with his left. HIs shot is struck with real venom but the EBFC keeper holds his ground to pull off a great save.

EBFC defenders Lalchunnunga and Golui do well to thwart an MCFC counter as they get back in the nick of time to stop the islanders’ advance.

Nearly half an hour played at the Mumbai Football Arena and still no goals.

Jervis does well for the torchbearers as he gets the better of Halen on the right as he holds the defender off well before getting past him.

He whips a cross into the centre of the box, but Hardik Bhatt gets a crucial interception in.

The hosts have seen slightly more of the ball up until this point as the possession statistics tip slightly in their favour with the islanders holding on to 56 per cent of the ball in the first quarter hour of the game.

Mumbai looking to cause problems here as they move the ball up the field on the right with Hardik on the overlap.

The ball is played through to the youngster on the run, but Alex Lima does well to throw him off his run just enough for the ball to roll out of play.

The visitors move the ball upfield looking to get ahead in the game.

Suhair plays a cross to the far post where Celito Silva cushions the ball into the centre for Alex Lima to shoot.

But, Lima is off balance as he gets the shot away and the ball flies high and wide of the mark.

Bipin Singh plays a delightful low coss across the face of the goal after being played brilliantly through.

But, there is no body at the end of the pass to tap the ball home.

So close to an early lead for the islanders.