Pune: Shillong Lajong stuck to their game-plan and produced scintillating football to crash any hopes of resurrection that Mumbai FC had as the visitors won 3-2, in the Round 6 match in the Airtel I-League football championship here on Wednesday.
The trademark doggedness of Mumbai FC came was outshown and Haroon Amiri’s red card summed up Mumbai’s night as they were outfought by Shillong Lajong, who with their searing pace and quick counter attacks dominated the match.
Amiri who has made himself the focal point of Mumbai FC, was a notable absentee from the starting line-up which hurt the hosts. Early into the match, Mumbai were caught napping by the visitors.
Shillong wingman Taisuke Matsuge went on a 35-yard run before subtly slotting the ball past Kunal Sawant in the sixth minute.
Mumbai, known for their fighting spirit, drew level in the 16th minute when Kamaljeet Kumar spotted the run of Sandjar Ahmadi to deliver a precise pass.
Ahmadi latched onto the pass before successfully beating his marker with a dummy and lined up a ground stroke past Lajong keeper Vinay Singh.
With the scores level, and both teams probing for the lead, a lively contest unfolded between the two sides. Lajong’s sheer pace against Mumbai’s aerial prowess resulted in a clash of styles with players going to the ground at regular intervals of time.
Lajong, who were spurred on by a small but lively group of away fans, enjoyed a good spell of possession that saw them create plenty of chances and were awarded with frequent corners.
The industrious Glen Cornell gave Lajong the lead when he picked the ball from the midfield and ran at the Mumbai defence.
Cornell’s pace saw him dribble past Anwar Ali and once in a one-on-one situation against the keeper, and the striker fired an unstoppable drive past Sawant in the 60th minute to make it 2-1.
It was a lead well deserved for all the running done by Lajong who kept Mumbai on their toes. Lajong were also solid at the back as the back four successfully kept Orok Esien quiet for most of the match.
Mumbai brought Amiri into the game with a little less than half an hour left on the clock.
They were outsped by the Lajong attack and their frustration boiled over when Amiri swung his arm at Minchol Son for a straight red card.
Amiri who was called to help him team allowed his temper to get the better of him and instead put his team at a disadvantage.
Meanwhile, Cornell shone in the lone striker role and linked up brilliantly with his team mates and drew the defenders out of the box to allow the wingers and midfielders to join the attack.
The striker got his second of the match when he once again, quite effortlessly, ran past three defenders, and smashed a left footed drive into net.
Then, there was late drama as ten man Mumbai pulled one goal back from a late corner that was headed home by defender Ritesh Perambra.
But the goal came too little too late as Mumbai succumbed to their second straight defeat at home.
Cornell was rightfully adjudged man of the match for his two goal effort and Mumbai will have some work cut out before their upcoming fixtures.