ISL season opener: Mumbai City FC make a point in thrilling 2-2 draw with Mohun Bagan Super Giants

The new Indian Super League season kicked off with the same old habits. There were breathtaking runs on the wings. Shots that resembled the drop kicks in rugby. Catastrophic defensive blunders. And an almighty tug-of-war between Mumbai City and Mohun Bagan Super Giants.

Between them, the two teams have won the majority of the silverware on offer in the last four seasons. And if the opening night was anything to go by, they will remain the teams to beat once again this term. More so Mumbai City FC, who will leave Kolkata with a feeling that they gifted a below-par Bagan a point in a match they dominated from the first whistle.

Vulnerable defence

Attacking gaffes and defensive errors cost them two points as the league’s most miserly back-line last season – with nine clean sheets – showed signs of vulnerability.

It’s amusing when the Indian Super League clubs try to play out from the back. They never tiki-taka their way out but play wobbly, slow passes before switching into panic mode.

It might be how their parent club, Manchester City, play but Mumbai City FC learnt the hard way that trying to be cute with the set of players they have on uneven surfaces like the one at the Salt Lake Stadium, might not be the smartest thing to do.

Mid-way through the first half, Mumbai City FC were boxed in close to the corner flag on the right of their goal. It wasn’t like Bagan were pressing high and fast, so Mumbai City FC chose to pass quick, short passes to move forward. But poor ball control and accuracy meant they fluffed a simple clearance chance, allowed Bagan to pile up pressure and the combination of these things led to a corner kick for the hosts.

Bagan, who didn’t have much to show until that moment in the 28th minute, scored from the set piece. Alberto Rodriguez made the most of Mumbai’s inability to deal with the corner to double Bagan’s lead, almost 20 minutes after forcing an own goal from Mumbai City FC defender Tiri although it was goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa’s error that led to it.

The two defensive blunders nearly overshadowed all the attacking spadework Mumbai City FC did for the rest of the evening.

Mumbai City FC continue to rely on wingers

This was a match that had the biggest star cast of Indian football lining up.

Mumbai City FC’s Lallianzuala Chhangte, Mehtab Singh, Brandon Fernandes, Vikram Partap Singh and Phurba Lachenpa have been national squad regulars while Bagan have the likes of Vishal Kaith, Subhasish Bose, Apuia, Sahal Abdul Samad, Anirudh Thapa and Liston Colaco in their ranks.

Yet, all of them were overshadowed by the constant, threatening runs made by a player who often goes under the radar – Bipin Singh – at least in the first half.

The Mumbai City FC winger who loves playing against Bagan, was by far the most sensational player. He ran up and down the left wing with so much pace and intensity that no other player – including many of his own teammates – could keep up with him. Though dangerous, his crosses didn’t yield any dividend for the Sky Blues who relied on that one outlet for most of their attacks all night.

While irresistible, Bipin also exemplified the lack of game sense Indians often show in crunch moments. In the fourth minute, he began a move and continued marching forward. Debutant Toral had a pop at goal and it looked like the ball was headed into the far corner, but an unmarked Bipin intervened to tap in. The winger led the celebrations, only to realise he was offside.

That error in judgment eventually cost Mumbai City FC a win. It could have been worse, though – a defeat – if not for Tiri’s goal in the 70th minute that began that comeback, which was complete when Thaer Krouma’s beautiful right-footed shot beat Bagan goalkeeper Vishal Kaith.

The match ended in a draw but on the opening night, it was Mumbai City FC who made a point.

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