Former Indian Super League champions Mumbai City FC (MCFC) overcame early hiccups to beat Indian Navy 4-1 of their opening Durand Cup match on the Saltlake Stadium on Thursday.
A two-goal blitz by substitute Lallianzuala Chhangte (89th, 90+1st) within the area of two minutes, following objectives from Vikram Pratap Singh (45+4th) and Greg Stewart (sixty fifth) gave the Islanders full factors from group B. The star-studded Mumbai outfit dominated the possession however lacked in ending early on as Indian Navy took the lead with a peach of a strike from Adersh Mattummal (forty third) in opposition to the run of play. Navy’s seasoned goalkeeper-cum-captain Velutha Kulathil Vishnu was firm underneath the bar and effected some high quality saves to maintain the ISL heavyweights at bay.
Finally, Des Buckingham’s facet obtained the much-needed breakthrough within the first-half harm time when Vikram made a high quality run contained in the field from the suitable and scored the equalizer with an acute angle end past the attain of Vishnu. Scottish striker Stewart, the ‘Hero’ of the final ISL season for Jamshedpur FC, then opened his account at MCFC, together with his signature calm-headed end to present them the lead after the one-hour mark.
Spanish medio Alberto Noguera earned the penalty after he was introduced down contained in the field by rival defender Abhishek Joshy as Stewart put them forward. Coming off the bench within the second-half, Chhangte then modified the complexion of the match together with his attacking intent.
Making amends for his miss within the seventy fifth minute, Chhangte then put the ball into the far nook to make it 3-1 simply earlier than the regulation time of play.
He then utilised Gurkirat Singh’s help to perfection to finish his brace within the dying minutes to finish a facile win for MCFC.
