ISL 5: Mumbai pile more misery on Chennaiyin with 1-0 victory

Chennaiyin FC’s woes this season continued as they were handed yet another defeat, this time at the hands of Mumbai City FC who clinched three crucial points at the Jahawarlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Saturday.

With this win, Mumbai now go up to the sixth place in the standings with 10 points from six matches while for Chennaiyin, the bad times just wouldn’t stop as they succumbed to their fifth loss in six matches as they languish right at the bottom of the pile.

It was strike from Modou Sougou in the 20th minute that was enough for Jorge Costa’s side to walk away with the win.

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The Chennaiyin defence was split open in the 20th minute but before that, Mumbai found it tough to create enough chances. But Rafael Bastos’ continued efforts bore fruit when he found Sougou who, messed up with his first shot and when it luckily parried to him by Chennaiyin goalie Karanjit Singh, the Senegalese did not hesitate to slot it into the net and hand his team the goal, which at the end turned out to be the winner.

But this goal from Sougou, which was his third this season did bring about a change in body language for hosts Chennaiyin as they pushed hard for a leveller but failed to find one with Raphael Augusto and Carlos Salom failing to produce that magical touch in the final third.

Statistically, John Gregory’ men weren’t the better side in the first half as they failed to have even one shot on target as Mumbai comfortably defended their 1-0 lead. Mumbai could have another before the interval only but Arnold Issoko’s pass Sougou who squandered the opportunity.

However, the introduction of Gregory Nelson did add that pace in Chennaiyin attacks as they looked a changed side than the first half.

They should have had their equaliser when Salom’s shot found a defender and hit the post hard. The rebound wasn’t worked on well by Thoi Singh, who shot it at Mumbai goalkeeper Amrinder Singh. Their lack of finishing cost their three crucial points.

Image credit- ISL