ISL: Jamshedpur edge past Mumbai City
Mumbai, Oct 2 : Jamshedpur FC lived up to their early pre-season promise with a methodical 2-0 victory over Mumbai City FC in their Indian Super League opener at the Mumbai Football Arena here on Tuesday.
In a fiercely-contested affair, Mario Arques' 28th-minute header and Pablo Morgado's second in the fifth minute of added time proved to be the difference.
It was the visitors who started the match in a much more confident manner and a move involving Jerry Mawihmingthanga almost paid off in the 10th minute.
The Jamshedpur winger played a one-two with Memo before crossing the ball across the box. Sergio Cidoncha's attempted bicycle kick failed to come off before Carlos Calvo's shot was deflected out for a corner.
The resulting set-piece saw Calvo find himself in a great position to score once again but the Spaniard blasted his effort over the bar.
Mumbai were finding it difficult to make any real forays into the Jamshedpur box and the visitors deservedly took the lead in the 28th minute through a Mario Arquesa's header.
The Spanish midfielder's attempted shot from 25 yards out initially found its way to Calvo on the left-flank. Calvo crossed the ball back across the face of goal and Arques, who had made a brilliant run, cushioned in a perfect header from a tight angle.
Cesar Ferrando's men almost doubled their lead immediately after the restart through a Calvo corner.
An unmarked Tiri rose well to meet the excellently taken corner but his header was cleared off the line by Lucian Goian.
Mumbai should have levelled matters minutes later following a midfield scramble which ultimately saw Sanju Pradhan thread a brilliant through ball between Jamshedpur's two central defenders to release Rafael Bastos on goal.
With just goalkeeper Subhasish Roy to beat, the Brazilian somehow failed to get a proper connection on the ball and the meek attempt was easily dealt with by the Jamshedpur custodian.
Subhasish though, was required to be at his very best around the hour mark after Goian's punted ball forward was flicked on to the path of Modou Sougou.
The Senegalese striker's perfect header seemed destined to nestle into goal before Subhasish pulled off an excellent dive to tip the ball over for a corner.
Mumbai thought they had got their equalizer in the 77th minute after Rafique's header from a cross from the left-flank beat Subhasish.
Much to the dismay of the home fans and the coach, the goal was ruled out for offside. Another 'goal' in the 85th minute was again flagged for offside.
There was a goal, finally, but at the other end.
In added time when Mumbai pressed more men forward, a quick break saw Sergio Cidoncha release debutant Pablo Morgado Blanco down the right flank. And the substitute sealed all three points for his side with a thumping finish which beat Amrinder Singh from a tight angle.
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RCB beat MI by 18 runs after batters fire
Mumbai (PTI): Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli blasted half-centuries as the defending champions beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in an Indian Premier League match here on Sunday.
Salt (78 off 36 balls) and Kohli (50 off 38 balls) stitched together a 120-run stand for the opening wicket before Patidar scored a rapid 53 off just 20 balls as RCB posted 240 for 4.
In response, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 222 for 5, with RCB spinner Suyash Sharma (2/47) putting the skids on the home side with a double strike in the eighth over, from which they could not recover.
Sherfane Rutherford top-scored for MI with an unbeaten 71 off 31 balls.
While opener Rohit Sharma appeared to be struggling with a hamstring issue and had to retire hurt on 19, his partner Ryan Rickelton made 37, while Suryakumar Yadav (33) and Hardik Pandya (40) were the other contributors for MI.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 240 for 4 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 78, Virat Kohli 50, Rajat Patidar 53, Tim David 35 not out).
Mumbai Indians: 222 for 5 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 71 not out, Ryan Rickelton 37, Hardik Pandya 40; Suyash Sharma 2/47).
