Balwant Singh’s brace helps Mumbai City FC beat NorthEast United 2-0 and enter top four

Two goals from Balwant Singh aided by some shambolic defending from NorthEast United helped Mumbai City FC claim a vital 2-0 away win in Guwahati on Wednesday to send them into the top four in the Indian Super League table.

The Indian striker scored in either half thanks to two defensive blunders from the home side to give the Islanders the three points and their first away win of the season. Cameroonian midfielder Achille Emana had an assist in both goals, while centre-back Gerson Vieira also impressed on the night.

With the win, Mumbai moved up to fourth position over FC Pune City with 10 points from seven matches. Pune have nine points from six matches and could displace Mumbai again if they avoid defeat against FC Goa on Saturday.

NorthEast United stayed second from bottom after their fourth defeat in six matches. Only Delhi Dynamos have been more dismal than the Guwahati-based team.

The first goal was a howler as NorthEast’s goalkeeper, Ravi Kumar, ran out of his area to challenge Balwant, with the Indian simply having to tap it past him into an open goal from outside the box.

Mumbai City put the result out of doubt with a second goal in the 68th minute. A lapse in concentration from Rowllin Borges allowed Emana into a dangerous area from where he squared the ball for Balwant. With an open goal awaiting him for the second time in the match, he made no mistake whatsoever.

The goal came minutes after Balwant had missed a header from close range. Emana was the man at it again, but his cross was headed over from yards away in an inexplicable miss. After going two behind, NorthEast piled on the pressure and sent fizzing crosses into the box at will, but a lack of cutting edge in front of goal meant those chances went begging.

NorthEast’s failure in front of goal was the story of the match. Marcinho smacked the post with an attempt and Seiminlen Doungel missed from point-blank range before Mumbai’s goals. This profligacy in front of goal will certainly be a problem in their quest to qualify for the business end of the tournament.