(Football news) The Islanders exited the Super Cup with a win and a high-spirited attitude, but NorthEast United’s 6-3 victory over Churchill Brothers meant that their performance tonight was insufficient to guarantee them a spot in the semifinals.  

Mumbai City entered the match with three changes to the lineup. Due to a minor injury, Phurba Lachenpa had to be replaced in goal by Mohammad Nawaz. Rahul Bheke, Mehtab Singh, and Halen Nongtdu made up the Islanders’ new defence lineup. Rowllin Borges, Apuia, and Vinit Rai were flanked in the middle of the pitch by Bipin Singh and Vikram Partap Singh. Alongside the young Ayush Chhikara, Lallianzuala Chhangte began at the top.

Chennayin FC applied early pressure to keep Mumbai City FC from establishing a rhythm throughout the first 10 minutes of play. The Marina Machans surrounded the Islanders whenever they were in control and attempted to strangle them. However, it took the Islanders only a little while to demonstrate their lightning-fast offensive potential.

Rowllin Borges delivered an acute long ball from deep in the Mumbai City box in the ninth minute, putting Chhangte into action right away. Vafa cleared the ball as Chhangte ran forward quickly and played into an almost empty box. 

In the 14th minute, Dueker sent a long grounded ball to Rahim, who raced into the box and struck a low driven attempt that was spectacularly saved by Nawaz diving to his right.

Slowly but surely, the Islanders started to calm down and put together promising plays led by the diligent Rowllin Borges, who was outstanding in the game’s opening period. In the final third of the field, particularly on the flanks, the front line, which had been anchored during the opening minutes of the game, started to surge forward and take up crucial positions. 

As a result of pressure from the Mumbai front line in the 19th minute, Samik Mitra in the Chennaiyin goal was forced to make an illegal back pass into his hands, which resulted in an indirect free kick on the edge of the six-yard box. A densely packed Chennayin defender deflected Rowllin Borges’ driving shot as it approached the goal.

Soon after, in the 25th minute, Vikram was advancing on the right flank when Apuia’s touch from the park’s centre found him with a lobbed through ball. Prior to Narayan’s strong defensive play, the move appeared to spell doom for Chennayin FC. Rowllin Borges gave the ensuing corner, and with a flat cross reached Vikram on the near post, but Vikram was unable to make the necessary connection.

Mumbai City broke the tie at the 33:00 mark. Rahul Bheke started the move by passing quickly to Chhangte outside the Mumbai box, who shrewdly inserted Bipin Singh behind the defenders. Ayush Chhikara, a young player, scored his first goal ever for the team after Bipin raced into the area from the left flank with purpose. Bipin skillfully slipped the ball across the six-yard box for Chhikara. With this effort, Mumbai City FC now leads 1-0. 

Chhikara was fouled on the right wing just before halftime, giving his team a free kick. When Bheke attempted to head in a cross from Chhangte, who had stepped up to take the set piece for his team, Samik Mitra intercepted the ball. The score was 1-0 in favour of the Islanders as halftime drew near.

The first few moments of the second half were exactly like the first. Chennayin FC appeared to be attacking once more. Their sense of urgency was very apparent, but they were unable to sting a dangerous attack against the Islanders’ tight defensive line.  

The exception came in the 52nd minute when Karikari, who had eluded the Mumbai defence, rose to forcefully head the ball towards the goal, but Nawaz was prepared to make yet another crucial stop. Edwin had delivered a superb cross from the edge of the penalty box. 

Mumbai City FC showed incredible tenacity as they held up defensively in the face of intense pressure from the Chennayin forward line. The Islanders kept moving the ball quickly while in control and were looking for a second goal. 

Mehtab Singh, who had a fantastic first half, kept up his strong form in the second. Mehtab made a brave save in the 60th minute, risking his life to parry Vafa’s vicious strike in the box. 

On a scorching night, Mumbai City FC made their first replacement in the 60th minute, switching goal scorer Ayush Chikkara for Gurkirat Singh to restock the attack.

In the 62nd minute, Apuia created yet another opportunity. With exact precision, he sent a superb, weighted pass to Chhangte on the left side. Following a series of stepovers in which Chhangte fooled the Chennayin defence with his footwork, he handed the ball back to Apuia, who immediately set up Vinit on the edge of the box. Vinit’s attempt, though, proved unsuccessful. 

Bipin was once more on the hunt 65 minutes into the contest. He let one go after spotting Samik out of position in a deft display of game awareness, but the Chennayin custodian was still able to make the save.

Mumbai City FC kept up their amazing defensive fortitude, working tirelessly to keep their perfect record intact. Every time Chennayin discovered a promising position, a tenacious blue shirt at the end of their ball would intercept them. 

The seasoned Rabul Bheke produced another crucial block in the 73rd minute. Duker attempted to square it inside the box, but the Mumbai captain stopped him. After a good play down the right side, Karirkari shot for Chenayyin in the box, but Mehtab once again blocked it to keep up his outstanding performance. In the 79th minute, Mehtab came to the rescue once more. 

In the 80th minute, Hardik Bhatt entered the game in place of Vikram Partap Singh as the Marina Machaans continued to attempt to attack the Mumbai defenders from the sides. On the left side, Vignesh assumed Chhangte’s place after replacing him.

The fourth official signalled seven minutes of stoppage time at the end of the second half, but the Mumbai team maintained their clean sheet to earn the full three points from the game. Unfortunately, the outcome was insufficient to guarantee the Islanders a spot in the semi-finals.

Season 2022–23 for Mumbai City comes to a close. The Islanders’ historic ISL season, in which they smashed practically all records and went unbeaten for 18 games en route to capturing the League Winners’ Shield, will always be remembered. Des Buckingham’s team followed up their ISL triumphs by defeating Jamshedpur FC to secure their place in the 2023–24 AFC Champions League Group Stage—a return to Asia’s top club competition. The Islanders completed the season by participating in the Super Cup with an all-Indian team and putting up a strong performance, demonstrating their continued dedication to the advancement of Indian football.
Also read: Mumbai City FC prevail 1-0 over Chennayin FC in Super Cup