Mumbai: Éverton Santos’ wonderful brace combined with captain Lucian Goian’s first goal this season powered Mumbai City to a thumping 4-0 win over Delhi Dynamos at the Mumbai Football Arena on Friday.
For a game marred by bad fouls and red cards, the ‘Islanders’ stood firm, not letting tempers overrule their splendid performance and in the end they emerged out comfortable winners that propelled them to second position just three points behind toppers Chennaiyin FC.
The game itself began with a soft penalty going Mumbai’s way, when third choice Dynamos goalkeeper Arnab Sharma tackled a rushing Everton Santos in the box. Achille Emana messed up his shot despite sending Delhi custodian the wrong way. It didn’t mattered though as Goian scored his first goal of the season.
Just before the break the ‘Islanders’ doubled their lead when Santos headed in a Emana cross, into the net to score his first of the night.
Then came the talking point of the game. An innocuous coming together between Sehnaj Singh and Matias Mirabaje saw both players lashing out at each other and their moment of madness saw both sides soon reduce to 10 men at the end of half-time. The referee had no choice but to dismiss both players from the playing field whose argument seemed to find no ending.
Resuming from break Mumbai needed just three minutes to triple their lead with Santos once again in the scoresheet. A Ruidas corner at the near-post fell for the Brazilian who made no mistake to once again find the net.
The scoreline may suggest a comfortable victory for the ‘Islanders’, but it by no means was an easy win. Delhi had their chances but unlike their opponents failed to find the net even once. Fiest season hero Romeo Fernandes had a glorious chance to pull one back but hit the side netting, while Matias’ shot bounced off the upright.
Mumbai though didn’t fail to pounce on an opportunity once again in the 79th minute this time through Balwant Singh. Achille Emana guilty of missing the penalty early into the game however ran away with two assists, one that found Balwant open on goal and the Indian international made sure of a high-five for the ‘Islanders’.