ISL 2020-21: Mumbai crush Bengaluru to return to top

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:11 am

Bartholomew Ogbeche reacts after scoring against Bengaluru FC.
Bartholomew Ogbeche reacts after scoring against Bengaluru FC.
Faheem Hussain / Sportzpics for ISL

Goals from Mourtada Fall (9'), Bipin Singh (15') and Bartholomew Ogbeche (84') helped Mumbai City FC go back to the top of the Indian Super League table with a 3-1 win over Bengaluru FC at the Fatorda Stadium on Tuesday. Mumbai have now gone unbeaten in eight games, while this is the first time ever that BFC have lost three league games in a row.

Sunil Chhetri(79') pulled one back from the penalty spot for BFC late on, but Carles Cuadrat's side were always second favourite, and now find themselves fifth in the table, 10 points behind leaders Mumbai. The only negative for Mumbai from the win was the late sending off of Ahmed Jahouh, who will now miss their crucial next game against second-placed ATK Mohun Bagan.

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Bengaluru made just one change from their previous encounter as Deshorn Brown replaced Erik Paartalu, while Mumbai coach Sergio Lobera named an unchanged XI from the 2-0 win over Kerala Blasters FC.

BFC squandered an early chance when Brown was set through on goal, but with just the keeper to beat, the 30-year-old fired over the crossbar.

Unlike BFC, Mumbai didn't miss their chance and took the lead in the ninth minute. Bipin's looped corner was headed across the goal by Hernan Santana and Fall leapt highest to nod the ball into the net. This was Fall's tenth goal in the league - all of them headed - and he is just one goal away from equalling Chhetri's record of 11 headed goals.

Lobera's men nearly doubled the tally soon after when Ahmed Jahouh chipped in for Bipin on the right and the latter cut it back for Adam le Fondre in the box. The Englishman's shot though was deflected off target.

Mumbai doubled their lead with a perfect team goal which saw Santana and Le Fondre combine to find Mandar Rao Dessai on the flank. The full-back's whipped cross found Bipin, who timed his run to get past his marker to score.

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At the other end, Amrinder Singh did well to keep Cleiton Silva's free-kick out of goal with a diving save as Mumbai maintained their two-goal lead at the break.

Mumbai City were unlucky to concede a penalty in the 78th minute when Silva was challenged in the box by Fall. Though the Senegalese appeared to have won the ball, the referee pointed towards the spot. Chhetri kept his composure and scored.

In the 84th minute, a howler from BFC keeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu restored Mumbai's two-goal cushion. Ogbeche nodded in a Cy Goddard corner, which Gurpreet fumbled and let in. There was late drama as Jahouh received his marching orders for the second time this season, following a second yellow.