Kolkata: For a team that has scored in each of it’s past four matches, Chennaiyin depite all the attacks failed to put one in as Mumbai City FC ran victorious, courtesy a Achille Emana penalty at the stroke of an hour at the Mumbai Football Arena on Sunday.
In a game played more physically with as many as 38 fouls, both the teams had fair-amount of chances and squandered all but one. With Mumbai finding the net, when Balwant was brought down by Nelson Alves in the box and Emana made no mistake from the spot, sending Karanjit the other way.
Chennaiyin FC had arrived in Mumbai on the back of three successive victories and were attempting to equal their 2015 record when they’d won five matches on the trot. That dream seemed to have got a perfect start in the opening 45 minutes when the visitors pressed hard with Mohammad Rafi coming close to securing the opening goal. But the former Kerala forward started ahead of Jeje Lalpekhlua, missed two glorious chances to give his side the lead, failing to touch the ball on one occasion while, he headed straight to the keeper on the other.
Goalless in the first-half, the away side would have nonetheless taken hope on the fact that they have scored seven goals after the break this season and almost scored a eight, but Thoi Singh failed to hit the target from a rebound. The ‘Islanders’ on the other hand had one decision going their way, when referee pointed to the spot, despite Balwant being brought down outside the penalty box. 1-0 up, the hosts could have sealed it with another goal but Rafa Jorda one-on-one with the goalkeeper, tried a cheeky chip that landed outside the goalpost.
Attacks furled up in the final few minutes as the ‘Marina Machans’ fought for an equaliser but Mumbai held on to maintain their unbeaten srteak at home. The win took also took the ‘Islanders’ to the fifth position while Chennaiyin dropped down to third with nine points from five matches.