ISL 2022-23: East Bengal sour Mumbai City's Shield party with 1-0 win

Updated: Oct 12, 2023, 03:21 pm

Naorem Mahesh Singh of East Bengal celebrates scoring the opening goal against Mumbai City FC.
Naorem Mahesh Singh of East Bengal celebrates scoring the opening goal against Mumbai City FC.
Vipin Pawar/Focus Sports/ISL

East Bengal handed Mumbai City FC a 1-0 loss, in the league shield winners' final game of the league stage in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Mumbai Football Arena on Sunday. Naorem Mahesh Singh scored the only goal of the match in the 52nd minute before the visitors guarded their slender lead to nab their first-ever ISL win over Mumbai.

Mumbai head coach Des Buckingham brought in a few new faces into the starting lineup, making four changes. One of these players was Ayush Chhikara who was inches away from nodding the ball into the back of the net early in the game, from a Bipin Singh cross from the left flank.

At the other end of the pitch, Cleiton Silva and Jake Jervis were constantly looking for an opening in the Mumbai defence. One of the most promising opportunities came when VP Suhair's cross from the right flank was headed back across goal by Silva before Jervis' shot flew over the bar.

In the final minute of the first half, Rowlin Borges' deflected effort came off the upright and that was the Islanders' best attempt in the opening period.

Seven minutes into the second half, the visitors took the lead. Silva's low ball from the right was left by Suhair, before Mahesh let it run onto his left foot and flashed it past Phurba Lachenpa.

Five minutes later, Chhangte was denied by a brilliant last-ditch diving block from Lalchungnunga. Just six minutes later, another chance came Mumbai City FC's way when Halen Nongtdu's acrobatic volley was headed for goal but kept out by Kamaljit.

In the final 15 minutes, Suhair had a couple of chances in quick succession but could not put the game to bed. The winger's initial shot from the right side of the box was parried straight back into his path by Lachenpa, but his subsequent attempted lob lacked power. Five minutes later, the winger saw another shot from a difficult angle blocked by the keeper.

In the final five minutes, a ball came in from Chhangte on the left flank and flashed across the face of goal with no one to apply the final touch. The East Bengal defence faced a barrage of attacks in the closing stages but remained organised to keep their narrow lead intact till the end of the match. It was the first time this season that Mumbai failed to score.