New Delhi, Mar 3:
Mumbai City FC levelled league leaders Odisha FC in thepoints table with a hard-fought 3-2 victory against the high-flying Punjab FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here to kick off theSaturday double header of the Indian Super League (ISL) match tonight.
Despiteboth teams having 35 points each, Odisha FC (+15) hold the edge againstthe Islanders (+14) in the standings due to a slightly better goaldifference currently. The reverse fixture between Mumbai City FC and Punjab FC was a gripping 2-1 affair where the latter had blown away a one-goal lead to lose all three points back in the City of Dreams.
It was a repeat of the same on Saturday, with the duo of Madih Talal andWilmar Jordan Gill striking once each within two minutes to help the ISL debutants head into the halfway mark of the match with a slender 2-1lead.
However, the Islanders answered with their January transfer market recruit and former FC Goa talisman bagging a brace in the secondessay of the match to notch their 10th victory of this ISL season.Starting the proceedings in the 17th minute was Bipin Singh, who madehis 100th appearance for Mumbai City FC in the match, becoming thefirst-ever Indian player to do so for the Islanders.
As the Islanders pierced through the Punjab FC defence with some serious pace,Bipin unleashed an effort that the opposition goalkeeper Ravi Kumarblocked, but the rebound led to Lallianzuala Chhangte who netted it pastthe home team custodian with extreme ease.
Tables turned 20 minutes later though, with Punjab FC matching the Mumbai City FC offence toe-to-toe. French playmaker Talal was at the centre of it all, yet again, dazzling the duo of Rahul Bheke and Mehtab Singh with his crafty footwork before testing his luck at goal from the left corner of the18-yard-box. His effort beat the dive of Phurba Lachenpa, who had worked hard to keep Punjab FC at bay till then.
The Islanders emerged as a potent force in the second half though, maintaining the upper hand in the proceedings, primarily spearheaded by the individual brilliance of Guarrotxena.
