First-placed FC Goa took on sixth-placed Mumbai City FC at the Fatorda Stadium on Tuesday. And though the standings did not deceive the outcome of the game, hardly anyone would have betted on such an emphatic victory for Goa, or such a substandard performance from Mumbai. Never before had any team scored more than five goals in the Indian Super League. Never before had two hat tricks been scored in a single ISL match. Maybe FC Goa had taken a pledge to re-write the record books, something which they ruthlessly fulfilled.
Although there was a five-place gap in the standings between the two teams, only three points separated them. But by the end of the match, FC Goa showed their class and showcased their superiority in such a way that not only have they managed to surge ahead further than their shattered opponents, but also gave them night to forget.
A balanced opening
The opening 30 minutes were in vast contrast to the rest of the match. Prior to conceding their first goal, Mumbai at least looked like they could put up a fight. For starters, their striker Frederic Piquionne was proving to be the usual nuisance for the opposition defenders. He used his strength to good effect and won some headers but without any productive outcomes. Nicolas Anelka, captain-cum-coach of Mumbai, came up with some crisp passes and surprisingly quick feet for his age. Their golden boy, India’s captain, Sunil Chhetri managed a few shots on target.
For Goa, Romeo Fernandes and Mandar Rao Desai were using either flank to good effect with their speedy runs and dangerous crosses. Joffre marshaled the midfield pretty well and upfront Dudu Omagbemi and Thonkhosiem Haokip were taking the attack to the Mumbai team. Initially, it seemed that this would be a closely-fought tie
The floodgates open
It all started with the 100th ISL goal of the season in the 34th minute. A clever flick from Haokip found Dudu, who, along with the ball was charged down by the Mumbai goalkeeper Subrata Paul. The ball trickled towards the goal and Haokip smashed it into the open net for his first of the season.
Just seven minutes after Haokip’s strike, Dudu joined in the party for his new team. Leo Moura, perhaps the most creative of all players in the match, passed a clever ball to Dudu, who turned with a touch and shot with perfect placement into the bottom right hand corner. As he went to celebrate his first for the team, the signs were ominous for the Mumbai team.
For the whole night, FC Goa keeper Laxmikant Kattimani hardly had anything to do, but when required, he responded professionally. He saved an Anelka shot with his feet and then managed to hold on to a long distance shot. The Mumbai players were relieved to hear the half time whistle and with the scoreboard reading 2-0 in favour of Goa, Mumbai still had an outside chance to turn things around.
But that, as it turned out, was high hopes. If Goa were a bit complacent in the first half, they turned the football pitch into a battlefield in the second. Goals kept coming from them thick and fast.
Unstoppable Goa
Just seven minutes later, Joffre latched on to a long ball and his pass found Haokip, who tapped the ball into the net. To Mumbai, that third goal itself was a knockout blow, as they played the rest of the game chasing shadows.
A 64th minute Joffre free kick was headed towards goal by Lucio, but Subrata Paul made a spontaneous save. However, Dudu showed great reflexes as he pounced on the loose ball and stabbed it home with his foot.
After that, it was really a question of when he would complete his hat trick.
And it finally happened in the 67th minute with Leo Moura who was at the thick of things. Mumbai defender Pavel Cmovs made an error by giving away the ball to Moura, who cut across from the left, made an unchallenged run into the penalty box and by the time the defenders came into the scene, Dudu had already tapped in the goal that gave him the hat trick.
After Dudu, it was Haokip’s turn to complete his hat trick. Denson Devadas, who had come on for Joffre, made a determined run through midfield with the ball and let fly from outside box. Subrata Paul did well to parry it away, but the ball fell to Haokip, who smashed in his third of the night.
And still FC Goa were not done. Fan-favourite Reinaldo, having come on as a substitute for Dudu, just had to get on the score sheet.
Mandar Rao Desai, who had been busy the whole night, cut in from the left and delicately chipped the ball across to Moura who unselfishly headed it to Reinaldo’s path. The Brazilian took a touch before shooting the seventh goal for Goa and giving the scoreboard a tennis set-like score line.
Mumbai have had some pretty poor outings in the ISL so far, but this was a disastrous turn of events for a team studded with high-profile players. The only player of notable quality who was missing was their wily midfielder Sony Norde, out on international duty. But it was a very rookie performance to say the least from some of the bigwigs in the Mumbai team. Both Chhetri and Anelka looked out of sorts and Subrata Paul is the last person one would expect to let in seven goals. However, he was not helped by the backline of his team. Pavel Cmovs had a night to forget as the Goa attackers took him for a ride and he made some glaring errors, one of which led to a goal. Rooted to sixth in the league table and with a goal difference of -6, a depleted Mumbai City FC looks down and out.
For FC Goa though, hardly anything could go wrong. They played to their strengths and were almost flawless in attacking and defending. They took their chances and now sit pretty at the top of the table, a semi-final spot within touching distance. Three goals for hero of the match Dudu, three for Haokip, three assists for Moura and with seven goals on the night, Goa certainly are in seventh heaven!
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Although there was a five-place gap in the standings between the two teams, only three points separated them. But by the end of the match, FC Goa showed their class and showcased their superiority in such a way that not only have they managed to surge ahead further than their shattered opponents, but also gave them night to forget.
A balanced opening
The opening 30 minutes were in vast contrast to the rest of the match. Prior to conceding their first goal, Mumbai at least looked like they could put up a fight. For starters, their striker Frederic Piquionne was proving to be the usual nuisance for the opposition defenders. He used his strength to good effect and won some headers but without any productive outcomes. Nicolas Anelka, captain-cum-coach of Mumbai, came up with some crisp passes and surprisingly quick feet for his age. Their golden boy, India’s captain, Sunil Chhetri managed a few shots on target.
For Goa, Romeo Fernandes and Mandar Rao Desai were using either flank to good effect with their speedy runs and dangerous crosses. Joffre marshaled the midfield pretty well and upfront Dudu Omagbemi and Thonkhosiem Haokip were taking the attack to the Mumbai team. Initially, it seemed that this would be a closely-fought tie
The floodgates open
It all started with the 100th ISL goal of the season in the 34th minute. A clever flick from Haokip found Dudu, who, along with the ball was charged down by the Mumbai goalkeeper Subrata Paul. The ball trickled towards the goal and Haokip smashed it into the open net for his first of the season.
Just seven minutes after Haokip’s strike, Dudu joined in the party for his new team. Leo Moura, perhaps the most creative of all players in the match, passed a clever ball to Dudu, who turned with a touch and shot with perfect placement into the bottom right hand corner. As he went to celebrate his first for the team, the signs were ominous for the Mumbai team.
For the whole night, FC Goa keeper Laxmikant Kattimani hardly had anything to do, but when required, he responded professionally. He saved an Anelka shot with his feet and then managed to hold on to a long distance shot. The Mumbai players were relieved to hear the half time whistle and with the scoreboard reading 2-0 in favour of Goa, Mumbai still had an outside chance to turn things around.
But that, as it turned out, was high hopes. If Goa were a bit complacent in the first half, they turned the football pitch into a battlefield in the second. Goals kept coming from them thick and fast.
Unstoppable Goa
Just seven minutes later, Joffre latched on to a long ball and his pass found Haokip, who tapped the ball into the net. To Mumbai, that third goal itself was a knockout blow, as they played the rest of the game chasing shadows.
A 64th minute Joffre free kick was headed towards goal by Lucio, but Subrata Paul made a spontaneous save. However, Dudu showed great reflexes as he pounced on the loose ball and stabbed it home with his foot.
After that, it was really a question of when he would complete his hat trick.
And it finally happened in the 67th minute with Leo Moura who was at the thick of things. Mumbai defender Pavel Cmovs made an error by giving away the ball to Moura, who cut across from the left, made an unchallenged run into the penalty box and by the time the defenders came into the scene, Dudu had already tapped in the goal that gave him the hat trick.
After Dudu, it was Haokip’s turn to complete his hat trick. Denson Devadas, who had come on for Joffre, made a determined run through midfield with the ball and let fly from outside box. Subrata Paul did well to parry it away, but the ball fell to Haokip, who smashed in his third of the night.
And still FC Goa were not done. Fan-favourite Reinaldo, having come on as a substitute for Dudu, just had to get on the score sheet.
Mandar Rao Desai, who had been busy the whole night, cut in from the left and delicately chipped the ball across to Moura who unselfishly headed it to Reinaldo’s path. The Brazilian took a touch before shooting the seventh goal for Goa and giving the scoreboard a tennis set-like score line.
Mumbai have had some pretty poor outings in the ISL so far, but this was a disastrous turn of events for a team studded with high-profile players. The only player of notable quality who was missing was their wily midfielder Sony Norde, out on international duty. But it was a very rookie performance to say the least from some of the bigwigs in the Mumbai team. Both Chhetri and Anelka looked out of sorts and Subrata Paul is the last person one would expect to let in seven goals. However, he was not helped by the backline of his team. Pavel Cmovs had a night to forget as the Goa attackers took him for a ride and he made some glaring errors, one of which led to a goal. Rooted to sixth in the league table and with a goal difference of -6, a depleted Mumbai City FC looks down and out.
For FC Goa though, hardly anything could go wrong. They played to their strengths and were almost flawless in attacking and defending. They took their chances and now sit pretty at the top of the table, a semi-final spot within touching distance. Three goals for hero of the match Dudu, three for Haokip, three assists for Moura and with seven goals on the night, Goa certainly are in seventh heaven!