ISL 2020-21: Mumbai beat ATKMB to finish top, take AFC Champions League slot

Mumbai City FC celebrate with the league winners' trophy after beating ATK Mohun Bagan.
Mumbai City FC celebrate with the league winners' trophy after beating ATK Mohun Bagan.
Faheem Hussain / Sportzpics for ISL

Mumbai City FC beat ATK Mohun Bagan 2-0 in the final league stage game of the season to finish top of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2020-21 table and seal the AFC Champions League slot for next season.

Mourtada Fall gave Sergio Lobera's side the lead in the 7th minute, and Bartholomew Ogbeche doubled it in the 39th, with both goals coming from headers from set pieces.

ATKMB only needed a draw to secure top spot, but failed to hold their defensive shape, especially in the first half against wave after wave of Mumbai attack. Already missing Subhasish Bose in their back-four, Antonio Habas' side suffered another major blow in defence just 19 minutes in when Sandesh Jhingan had to be substituted due to an injury.  

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Mumbai were without their talismanic midfielder Hugo Boumous, currently serving a four-match suspension, but Ahmed Jahouh and Raynier Fernandes controlled the midfield, and capitalised on gaps in ATKMB's makeshift defence time and again.

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The league stage winners will now face fourth-placed FC Goa in the playoffs, while ATKMB will be up against Khalid Jamil's resurgent NorthEast United FC. FC goa secured their place in the playoffs earlier in the day with a draw vs Hyderabad.