Two cool finishes marked a match that cried out for clinical touches. Delhi and Mumbai neutralised each other 1-1 in a match that almost saw Mumbai get its first away win in the history of the Indian Super League.
“Deserve's got nothin' to do with it” remarked Clint Eastwood's character in his 1992 film Unforgiven. This is a rule that does not just apply to the cinematic genre of Westerns but to the wider world as well. In sport, one hopes that inversion of the just does not take place. If a team shows more attacking verve than the opposition, the general thinking goes that they deserve to emerge victorious. This childish belief is a part of the world view of a majority of football audiences. This is keeping aside the point of view of hardcore supporters who believe that the ends justify the means. But even for them surely, some sort of angst arises when their team fails to score at moments when it seems easier to miss. Disillusionment is consolidated.
Mumbai take the lead
The match between Delhi and Mumbai conformed largely to this stomach-churning narrative for the most part. Delhi had more shots on goal. By this, one does not mean that they simply took more long range shots that were nowhere near the goal (although they did do that as well). They troubled Subrata Paul a couple of times in the second half . Paul responded well as is his wont. Even when he fluffed his lines a wee bit from a Florent Malouda free kick, the post acted to preserve Mumbai's advantage.
Mumbai scored in the 70th minute from a through ball by the Tunisian Selim Benachour to the French and Martinician player Frederic Piquionne who rounded Doblas to score, a cool act which belied what had happened before.
One could not even fault the humidity. It was foggy and yet the play in other parts of the pitch was as fluid as in any other match in this year's ISL. The goalkeepers of both teams were largely undisturbed in the first half. After a succession of passes, players regardless of their experience shot in vain at the goal repeatedly from outside the 18 yard box. Surely even they must have stopped believing in their odds after a certain point.
Players are assembled in the ISL for a three month stint. There can often be a lack of co-ordination at vital moments due to the highly compressed schedule. Players often feel the need to do more in their capacity amidst such uncertainty. Perhaps this explains the Sisyphean activity of the forward line. The spectators accept it as inevitable as well. A goal that too cleanly taken, becomes a pleasant jolt.
Delhi keep it for late
Mumbai having taken the lead undeservedly proceeded to take control. They showed attacking flair and could have scored a second goal. After 94 minutes they may have thought that they had done enough to secure a milestone win. But Benchour the provider for the goal gave away a free kick. He earned a caution for his trouble. These kind of yellow cards are considered condonable - the player takes one for the team as he stops the opposition in its tracks. This however would not be such a worthy act in retrospect.
Malouda's free kick found a Mumbai FC player, Lalchhuanmawia Fanai , who headed the ball over himself and towards his own goal. Robin Singh kept on side and blasted the ball into the net via a half volley. Celebrations ensued at the garnering of an unexpected point. Singh retained his coolness as he received his compatriots' acclaim. Such a cooler approach could have been put on show in the penalty box more. Instead of celebrating a last minute draw, the Delhiites could have roamed home to a comfortable victory. The Mumbaikers on the other hand might wonder if they preferred cynicism over nous at the wrong moment.
We welcome your comments at
letters@scroll.in.
“Deserve's got nothin' to do with it” remarked Clint Eastwood's character in his 1992 film Unforgiven. This is a rule that does not just apply to the cinematic genre of Westerns but to the wider world as well. In sport, one hopes that inversion of the just does not take place. If a team shows more attacking verve than the opposition, the general thinking goes that they deserve to emerge victorious. This childish belief is a part of the world view of a majority of football audiences. This is keeping aside the point of view of hardcore supporters who believe that the ends justify the means. But even for them surely, some sort of angst arises when their team fails to score at moments when it seems easier to miss. Disillusionment is consolidated.
Mumbai take the lead
The match between Delhi and Mumbai conformed largely to this stomach-churning narrative for the most part. Delhi had more shots on goal. By this, one does not mean that they simply took more long range shots that were nowhere near the goal (although they did do that as well). They troubled Subrata Paul a couple of times in the second half . Paul responded well as is his wont. Even when he fluffed his lines a wee bit from a Florent Malouda free kick, the post acted to preserve Mumbai's advantage.
Mumbai scored in the 70th minute from a through ball by the Tunisian Selim Benachour to the French and Martinician player Frederic Piquionne who rounded Doblas to score, a cool act which belied what had happened before.
One could not even fault the humidity. It was foggy and yet the play in other parts of the pitch was as fluid as in any other match in this year's ISL. The goalkeepers of both teams were largely undisturbed in the first half. After a succession of passes, players regardless of their experience shot in vain at the goal repeatedly from outside the 18 yard box. Surely even they must have stopped believing in their odds after a certain point.
Players are assembled in the ISL for a three month stint. There can often be a lack of co-ordination at vital moments due to the highly compressed schedule. Players often feel the need to do more in their capacity amidst such uncertainty. Perhaps this explains the Sisyphean activity of the forward line. The spectators accept it as inevitable as well. A goal that too cleanly taken, becomes a pleasant jolt.
Delhi keep it for late
Mumbai having taken the lead undeservedly proceeded to take control. They showed attacking flair and could have scored a second goal. After 94 minutes they may have thought that they had done enough to secure a milestone win. But Benchour the provider for the goal gave away a free kick. He earned a caution for his trouble. These kind of yellow cards are considered condonable - the player takes one for the team as he stops the opposition in its tracks. This however would not be such a worthy act in retrospect.
Malouda's free kick found a Mumbai FC player, Lalchhuanmawia Fanai , who headed the ball over himself and towards his own goal. Robin Singh kept on side and blasted the ball into the net via a half volley. Celebrations ensued at the garnering of an unexpected point. Singh retained his coolness as he received his compatriots' acclaim. Such a cooler approach could have been put on show in the penalty box more. Instead of celebrating a last minute draw, the Delhiites could have roamed home to a comfortable victory. The Mumbaikers on the other hand might wonder if they preferred cynicism over nous at the wrong moment.