Defending champion Mumbai City FC entered the 2024-25 Indian Super League playoffs on the expense of Odisha FC following a 2-0 victory over Bengaluru FC on the Sree Kanteerava Stadium right here on Tuesday.
First-half objectives from Lallianzuala Chhangte and Nikolaos Karelis had been sufficient as Mumbai (36 factors) pipped Odisha (33) to bag the final obtainable knockout berth. In the single-legged playoff, Mumbai will once more meet BFC — which was assured third spot whatever the consequence versus Mumbai — within the Garden City later this month.
In that tie, BFC must enhance leaps and bounds, for Tuesday’s efficiency was largely pedestrian. First-choice goalie Gurpreet Singh Sandhu began on the bench whereas Chinglensana Singh and Alberto Noguera weren’t even within the squad. The artistic spark Ryan Williams was substituted on the break and captain Sunil Chhetri, for big stretches, reduce a annoyed determine.
Paying the penalty
Mumbai, with all the things to play for, went forward within the eighth minute when Chhangte blindsided defender Aleksandar Jovanovic and bundled the ball from close-range after a goalmouth melee. The burly Australian was once more within the thick of issues as he fouled Karelis contained in the field on 37 minutes and noticed BFC’s deficit worsen.
BFC didn’t have a single shot on aim but it surely did come shut twice within the first interval — when a Chhetri header throughout the face of the aim missed Edgar Mendez by a whisker and when the skipper mis-controlled a splendid aerial ball from Williams on the far publish. In the second half Mendez shot vast as he tried to beat an advancing Phurba Lachenpa.
But for these nervous moments, Mumbai was compact and managed the match in knowledgeable style. In the second interval, it outplayed the host and will have scored much more. Vikram Pratap Singh’s beautiful long-ranger on 78 minutes went off the crossbar after being tipped over by ’keeper Sahil. However, the job was completed by then.
The consequence: Bengaluru FC 0 misplaced to Mumbai City FC 2 (Chhangte 8, Karelis 37).
Published – March 11, 2025 10:13 pm IST
