Mumbai City FC's Jorge Rolando Pereyra Diaz celebrates the opening goal against FC Goa at the Mumbai Football Arena.
Photo Credits: ISL
PANAJI
FC Goa were made to pay for not taking their chances on the night as they went down 4-1 to Mumbai City FC on Thursday evening in Andheri, Mumbai.
A brace by Jorge Pereyra Diaz and goals from Lallianzuala Chhangte and Alberto Noguera helped Mumbai City extend their unbeaten run in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2022-23 season. Iker Guarrotxena scored the only goal for the Gaurs in the first half.
Earlier in the day, FC Goa head coach Carlos Pena made two changes to the playing XI that started in the defeat against Bengaluru FC last week, as Edu Bedia returned to replace Princeton Rebello while Noah Sadaoui made way for Redeem Tlang. The latter was impactful especially in the first half, and was unfortunate not to return home with a goal.
While Mumbai City kick-started proceedings in the first half, it was the Gaurs who got the earliest goal-scoring opportunity. A long ball from deep in the midfield by Ayush Chhetri found Alvaro Vazquez, who advanced into the box before attempting a shot from a tight angle. Phurba Lachenpa, the Islanders’ shot-stopper had it covered, however, as he parried the ball away for a corner-kick.
In the next few minutes, Redeem Tlang and Marc Valiente came close to scoring as well, but ultimately it was Des Buckingham’s men who broke the deadlock in the 16th minute. Jorge Pereyra Diaz netted his fifth goal of the season after receiving the ball in Goa’s box and side-stepping Valiente. It served as a wake-up call of sorts for the Gaurs, who intensified their attacks and were rewarded for it six minutes later.
Tlang was in the thick of things once again as he latched on to a long ball from the midfield and laid it off for Iker Guarrotxena just outside the box. The 29-year-old, in turn, fired straight at Lachenpa who spilled the ball into the net to gift Pena’s men their equalizer.
The trio of Vazquez, Guarrotxena and Tlang got a handful more chances in the remainder of the half, but none of them ended with the nets bulging. One opportunity that Pena’s men would surely regret would be that of Vazquez, who shot straight at the ‘keeper in a 1-v-1 situation. At the other end, Lallianzuala Chhangte scored in the 41st minute to restore the Islanders’ lead, with Apuia registering the assist for a brilliant through-ball to the 25-year-old.
Returning from the half-time break, Mumbai City stepped up quickly, and in three minutes, Pereyra Diaz found another goal. Chhangte quickly found the Argentinian on the left side, who took his time and finished comfortably into the far post.
Ex-FC Goa midfielder Alberto Noguera hit the final hammer blow against his former team in the 55th minute. And as the Gaurs looked to fight back, they were dealt a body blow when veteran midfielder Edu Bedia was dismissed in the 79th minute.
The defeat leaves Goa at fifth in the standings, with 12 points from 8 matches. Their next assignment in the league is against Odisha FC, at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on November 10.
