Indian Super League Highlights: Nicolas Anelka Stars in Mumbai City FC's Win Over Kerala Blasters
Mumbai City FC beat Kerala Blasters at home in the Indian Super League. Catch all the highlights here.
Mumbai City FC and Kerala Blasters met in a crucial Indian Super League match in the former's backyard. Catch all the highlights here (Matchcentre):
20:56 (IST): That is the end of the match. Mumbai win 1-0 due to Anelka's maiden goal in the league.
20:49 (IST): Nicolas Anelka is again in the thick of actions as he runs down from the left wing and his strike is saved equally well by the keeper, the ball is deflected off the keeper to Andre Moritz who misses a clear goal scoring chance as he fires the ball away from the right pole.
20:41 (IST): Milagres catching Andre Moritz and giving a free kick away. A decent free kick by Moritz as he drills the ball below the wall and eventually past the right pole as well.
20:37 (IST): Nicolas Anelka showing his class again and runs down the right flank and puts in a great cross inside the box to find Subhash. The striker fires it just above the crossbar missing a certain goal.
20:32 (IST): Cedric Hengbart puts in a nice aerial ball inside the box but the defender proving to be stronger compared to the striker and heads it away for a corner.
20:31 (IST): Mumbai City FC dominating the ball and putting up some nice attacks on the goal, indeed a treat for the crowd.
20:25 (IST): Nicolas Anelka showing his skills with the ball, tricking pass the defender easily but his cross is adjudged off-side.
20:20 (IST): Andre Moritz puts in a great throughball to Jan Stohanzl who collects it well but then blasts it over the goal.
20:16 (IST): Sandesh Jhingan is very quick off his feet and cuts past the defender. The shot on goal is deflected by the defender.
20:14 (IST): Mumbai City FC is in full command as they come up with a series of attacks to push the Kerala defence back.
20:10 (IST): The keeper forward to clear the ball and runs back in time to save the shot by Nicolas Anelka
20:09 (IST): Both the teams were playing equally well in the first half but the moment of magic by Nicolas Anelka being the differnce between the teams. Kerala Blasters FC will have to pull up their socks to come back in this game.
20:05 (IST): The second half begins and Kerala under pressure to get back into this game.
19:48 (IST): Mumbai City FC taking the crucial lead just before the break puts them in the drivers seat at the half way mark.
19:46 (IST): GOAL! Anelka gives Mumbai the lead in the dying stages of the first half.
19:44 (IST): Penn Ikechukwu Orji getting the ball just outside the box but the attack is spoilt in the end by the attacker as he gives away the ball way too easily.
19:43 (IST): Kerala win a corner, and Jhingan gets his header in, but it loops straight to Subrata.
19:39 (IST): Jan Stohanzl puts in an amazing throughball from the half line to Nicolas Anelka at the left flank but the striker couldnt convert it into a good chance.
19:37 (IST): Pedro Gusmao running away with the ball down the right flank and almost past the last defender but Pavel Cmovs intercepts it well.
19:31 (IST):Â The corner is well headed by Cedric Hengbart towards the goal but the keeper makes an important save.
19:28 (IST): Penn Ikechukwu Orji gives a teasing throughball to Stephen Pearson who sends in a nice cross in the box but Pavel Cmovs defends it well.
19:24 (IST): A quarter of the match has been played, and neither team being able to break the deadlock as yet.
19:22 (IST): Moritz sends in a seemingly harmless cross, but Nirmal Chettri heads it out to be safe.
19:17 (IST): Anelka takes a very tight shot on goal but the keeper blocks it. Moritz gives a lovely throughball to Anelka in the box who cuts past the defender and strikes only for a routine save by the keeper.
19:16 (IST): Gusmao does well to create a bit of space on the right, but his attempted cross sails over the bar.
19:12 (IST): Pavel Cmovs giving a back pass which could have been dangerous as Iain Hume was howering near the goal but keeper to the rescue.
19:11 (IST): First real attack by Kerala as they try to charge towards the goal but the Mumbai defence holding them well.
19:06 (IST): Good build up by the home team with having free flowing passes in the early minutes of this game.
19:05 (IST): Injury woes for Kerala ahead of the game as Sandip Nandy comes in place of the injured David James.
19:00 (IST): The match gets underway and Mumbai will be pushing for an early lead in the first half.
18:55 (IST): The Mumbai supporters for the first time will be against Sachin Tendulkar, all for the love of Mumbai City FC. The home team would look to bounce back amidst the electrifying crowd support.
COACH WARNS OF SHODDY DEFENCE
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Sounding critical of Mumbai City FC defence in the previous game that they lost 1-5 to Chennayin FC, head coach Peter Reid wanted his team to not concede easy goals when they take on Kerala Blasters here on Sunday.
"We have got to defend better and we have got be a threat. We got to be more professional and disciplined in our defending and in attacking. We have to be a bit more ruthless. There have been some extenuating circumstances," said Reid.
"We didn't have probably our best attacker (Nicolas Anelka) in the first three games for obvious reasons. We got Andre (Moritz) back a 100 per cent, so I am expecting more from us from an attacking point of view. Certainly, the more concern for me is the defense. I want us to get stronger and not concede cheap goals," the Englishman said.
The former Manchester City manager said he held a video analysis session with the defenders to try and improve their game. The team has conceded 10 goals so far. (Read: Peter Reid Wants Mumbai City FC Defence to Hold up Against Kerala Blasters)
OPENING WIN FOR KERALA
Overcoming a one-goal deficit, Kerala Blasters FC edged past FC Pune City 2-1 to register their first win in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium, here on Thursday.
French international David Trezeguet gave the hosts an early lead with his 15th minute strike to bring the home fans to their feet. (Read: Kerala Blasters Down FC Pune City 2-1, Register First Win of Tournament)
MUMBAI STUNNED BY NORTHEAST
NorthEast United struck twice in the second half in a remarkable turnaround to stun Mumbai City FC 2-0 in an Indian Super League match which saw the home side reduced to nine men in the end here on Friday.
The home side, who had thrashed Pune City FC 5-0 in their previous match, failed to score a goal despite dominating the proceedings early in the match in front of their home crowd at the DY Patil Stadium here.
The first half belonged to Mumbai City FC but the visitors came back in the second half with a superior performance as they scored two goals to run away winners in their first away match of the tournament. (Read: NorthEast United FC Stun 9-Man Mumbai City FC 2-0)