Mumbai move to third place for now tied on 13 points with the table-toppers. They have, however, played an extra game. NorthEast United drop to 5th place. On Saturday, ATK welcome FC Pune City. Join us at 1930 IST for all the action. Till then, cheers!
Awards
The Club Award is collected by Amrinder Singh as Mumbai win the game. The Limitless Player of the Match is given to Rafael Bastos. Paulo Machado wins the Winning Pass of the Match while Redeem Tlang is awarded the Emerging Player of the Match. Lastly, Arnold Issoko is the Hero of the Match.
Mumbai edge NorthEast by a goal
A hat-trick of wins for the Islanders. Their fourth in 5 games. A brilliant run of games and they will want to continue it. After an early first half goal, Mumbai were solid at the back and managed to keep another clean sheet. Their 4th this year. The visitors though will have to give thanks to their keeper, Amrinder Singh. He was solid in goal and ensured the lead was intact. Modou Sougou had a chance to double the lead but couldn't hit the target. The latter stage of the game was all NorthEast United. They kept attacking and putting in crosses but none found the back of the net. They tried their best by bringing in substitutions but nothing helped. In the end, the Highlanders couldn't end their abysmal run at home.
90'
Full time
Mumbai City FC manage to hold onto their lead. 1-0 after 90 minutes.
90'
Good play
NorthEast play some good passes before finally unleashing one on target. Ogbeche lays the ball to Gallego on the left. He turns and fires it with power at the near post but Amrinder Singh makes a good low collection.
90'
Added time
We will have 6 minutes of added time. Will NorthEast United score a late equalizer? Meanwhile, Matias Mirabaje is given a card for a high rage dissent.
90'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Mumbai City FC : Claudio Correr
89'
Substitution
Substitution - Mumbai City FC (In: Sanju Pradhan, Out: Sanju Pradhan)
87'
Another escape
Augustine Okrah puts in the ball inside the box. Lucian Goian heads it away. Okrah gets another bite. Once again Mumbai see out the danger as Amrinder Singh comes out and holds the ball.
85'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Mumbai City FC : Subhasish Bose
83'
All NorthEast now!
The home side is asking the questions now. Bombing in crosses and taking shots on goal. This time Rowllin at the near post shoots and once again Amrinder Singh is there. Federico Gallego puts his laces behind the rebound but cannot keep it on target.
80'
SAVE!
What a save from Amrinder Singh! Reagan Singh plays a cross from the right. Ogbeche receives it, chests it down and then fires in a shot. However, Amrinder Singh is off his line, narrows the angle for the striker and makes the save with his body. The ball rebounds to Rowllin Borges outside the box. He settles himself but volleys his shot just above the crossbar.
79'
Substitution
Substitution - NorthEast United FC (In: Augustine Okrah, Out: Augustine Okrah)
76'
Change made
Rafael Bastos cannot continue any longer. Matias Mirabaje is brought on to take his place.
76'
Substitution
Substitution - Mumbai City FC (In: Claudio Correr, Out: Claudio Correr)
76'
Substitution
Substitution - NorthEast United FC (In: Gurwinder Singh, Out: Gurwinder Singh)
74'
Injury
Sorry sight for Rafael Bastos. He twisted his ankle and is taken out by the stretcher. He is on the sidelines and will look to get back on the field if possible.
72'
On target
Good from Keegan. He swings in a ball with purpose to the far post. Ogbeche doesn't take it in his stride well. He then with his left foot shoots it on target but Amrinder Singh is in a good position and makes the save.
68'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - NorthEast United FC : Mato Grgic
67'
Another change
Mumbai boy, Raynier Fernandes comes in for Milan Singh. Raynier will look to sit ahead of the back four and hold play.
67'
Substitution
Substitution - Mumbai City FC (In: Raynier Fernandes, Out: Raynier Fernandes)
64'
Substitution
First of the match. Keegan Pereira comes in for Robert Lalthlamuana. They will look to attack more and use all the wide places.
64'
Substitution
Substitution - NorthEast United FC (In: Keegan Pereira, Out: Robert Lalthlamuana)
61'
MISSED!
A chance for Mumbai to go 2-0 up but they have bottled it. Arnold Issoko plays a through ball from the right to Modou Sougou inside the box. The midfielder is through on goal. He has the pressure of Jose Leudo. The Mumbai player takes a touch and then with his left foot skies his shot. Big chance for the visitors!
56'
Side netting
Juan Mascia slides in a ball to Federico Gallego on the right. The latter does not have the best of first touches. He then goes for goal himself but can only hit the side net.
55'
Chance!
Federico Gallego puts in a ball from the right. He is out of balance but still manages to float one in. Sehnaj Singh does well to get it to safety.
50'
Chip!
Modou Sougou needed to do more. A lovely header from Sehnaj Singh sees Pape onside. The striker looks from the corner of his eye and sees the keeper out of his line. He looks to lob it over him but hits it over the roof. Should have taken a touch and drilled it low.
47'
Close!
Ogbeche from the left is set free. He squares the ball through the legs of the defender to the platform. Subhasish Bose does just enough for Juan Mascia not to get ahead of him. A corner.
46'
Second half
We are back after the break. This time the hosts will get us underway and look for a goal early on. No changes to report so far.
Mumbai up after a dramatic goal
Mumbai take the lead after an early goal from Arnold. They had luck on their side and will be happy that they hold the edge as before the ball just past the line, Issoko's hand had the last touch. The referee failed to catch it and the goal stood. Ogbeche then failed to get his header on target few minutes later. They had another half chance but were not clinical. Mumbai took few cards earlier on. They were great on set-pieces but just couldn't find the back of the net. The hosts don't look as fluent as they have been this season. They need a goal early if they want to change their home terror run. Still a lot left in the game. Join us after the break.
45'
Half time
The ref blows his whistle to end the first half.
45'
Headed up!
Paulo Machado crosses this one from a corner at the near post. Modou Sougou jumps but cannot keep his header down.
45'
Added time
There will be three added minutes to this half.
45'
Card
First one for the hosts. Robert Lalthlamuana comes running in and stamps the foot of Arnold Issoko. The ref puts another name in his book.
45'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - NorthEast United FC : Robert Lalthlamuana
40'
Just wide!
Lovely set-piece from Mumbai. Straight from the training ground. Paulo Machado from the right cuts it back to Rafael Bastos. The forward connects well but just drags his shot wide of the near post. That would have been sweet had it found the back of the net.
35'
Free kick
Juan Mascia takes this free kick which is just outside the box. He goes for the dip where it is too close to get it to dip in time. He still tries and skies it over the crossbar. The hosts need to at least hit the target.
33'
No way ahead
Juan Mascia from the left runs in with the ball, gets near the box but then eventually runs into traffic.
26'
High and wide
Reagan Singh runs from the right and floats in a teasing ball to the platform. Juan Mascia comes in front of Joyner but cannot get his header down. Goal kick.
23'
ALMOST!
What a chance for NorthEast to get on level terms. Redeem Tlang plays in a perfect aerial ball inside the box. Ogbeche runs in front of his man, gets his head to it and looks to place it to the bottom corner. He heads but the ball just misses the target. So close yet so far!
21'
Injury
Modou Sougou tries winning the ball inside the box but Pawan Kumar charges out and collects it. Pape's knee hit Kumar on his follow-through. Pawan is good to go after some brave keeping.
15'
Another card
The second one for Mumbai. Sehnaj Singh from the back sticks out his stud on Federico Gallego who was getting the better of him. He's got to be careful now.
15'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Mumbai City FC : Sehnaj Singh
9'
Yellow!
An early card for Lucian Goian. He is now treading on thin ice for the rest of the game. Goes hard on Juan Mascia and gets his leg. The referee puts him in the book.
9'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Mumbai City FC : Lucian Goian
4'
GOAL!
Early drama here in Guwahati! A corner from the right is headed from the far post by Subhasish Bose. Arnold there turns and shoots but cannot hit it on target. It deflects off and goes to Paulo Machado on the right who runs in and fires a shot towards goal. His shot is just across the face of goal where Arnold Issoko who comes and gets the last touch before the ball is saved near the goal line. The hosts ask for a hand ball but the referee after having a chat with his assistant says that the ball did cross the line. The ref gives Mumbai their goal! Fortunate for the visitors but they will take it.
4'
Goal
Goal - Mumbai City FC : Nkufo Arnold
2'
Free kick
Well over from the Nigerian. Early chance for the hosts to get off the mark. Bartholomew Ogbeche from around 25 yards out lines up to take this free kick. He looks to bend it at the far corner but it was always going high.
1'
Kick off
We are underway in this game. The visitors get us rolling in their all-blue kit. The home team in their regular white skin will want the ball ASAP.
Toss
NorthEast United FC win the toss and will attack from right to left in this half.
National anthem
The players walk out of the tunnel for the Indian national anthem.
Mumbai City FC XI
Amrinder Singh (GK), Milan Singh, Arnold Issoko, Joyner Lourenco, Subhasish Bose, Rafael Bastos, Lucian Goian, Sauvik Chakrabarti, Sehnaj Singh, Modou Sougou, Paulo Machado (C).
NorthEast United FC XI
Pawan Kumar (GK), Jose Leudo, Federico Gallego, Bartholomew Ogbeche (C), Reagan Singh, Rowllin Borges, Mato Grgic, Robert Lalthlamuana, Redeem Tlang, Juan Mascia, Lalthathanga Khawlhring.
Matchday!
It's the festive season in India and we have another ISL game in store for you. If you're as excited as we are then you deserve appreciation. A perfect game of football to make this auspicious occasion even better. NorthEast United FC hosts Mumbai City FC in match 32 of this edition. Even though the Highlanders have a great start this season they are still looking to win at home. Since last season, they have played 11 matches at their turf and have won just 2. What aggravates their problems even more is that they are winless here in their last 5 games and have netted just 8 goals since the start of last season. The hosts will hope Ogbeche and co. who are looking in fine touch now will end this abysmal run. On the flip side, Mumbai have improved their defensive record. They have kept 3 clean sheets which is the most by any side. However, even though they have won 3 games from their last 4 they don't look threatening enough. They need to put more pressure and tighten things up even further. A big match is on your way. Going us in a short while.