After two disappointing seasons, Mumbai City FC look serious contenders for the ISL 2016 title

Mumbai City, a name that promised so much but failed to deliver on all fronts have finally got the monkey off their back and qualified for their maiden playoff spot in the Indian Super League in its third edition. Mumbai City FC became the first team this season to go through to the play-offs courtesy of a resounding 2-0 win over defending champions Chennaiyin FC in Mumbai on November 23.

It was goals from two of Mumbai’s key players, Matias Defederico in the 32nd minute and Krisztian Vadocz in the 60th minute, that sealed the deal for the Ranbir Kapoor-owned franchisee. The win could have been bigger, had the Mumbai frontline, including Sunil Chhetri, not been wasteful.

The thing that stood out in the win was that, despite being played around by Chennaiyin FC in the first half hour, the team kept focus and did not lose their bearing, responding with a great fightback and most importantly, a win.

Great start

Mumbai have had a fantastic last two matches, beating in-form Kerala Blasters 5-0, following up with a 2-0 win over Chennaiyin FC, a team known for peaking at the business end of the tournament. Mumbai City FC were clinical and played quality football throughout the pitch and ensured all their departments stuck to the task.

They began their ISL 2016 campaign with a win over fellow Maharashtra rivals FC Pune City and went on to make it two in two against NorthEast United FC. Two wins, two clean sheets; it all looked rosy for the Ranbir Kapoor-owned side and they seemed strong contenders for progressing through to the playoffs.

Just when it seemed that this year the hoodoo would finally be broken, Mumbai drew two and lost two of their next four games.

A mild stutter

Apart from a 1-1 draw against Atletico de Kolkata, Mumbai went down to the lowly Kerala Blasters and the perilously out-of-form FC Goa team. To make matters worse, Mumbai City FC surrendered their lead thrice to allow the Delhi Dynamos a point against them despite scoring thrice.

If results were not enough, the Mumbai outfit had to deal with the absence or lack of form of their marquee player Diego Forlan. One that was touted to be the signing of the ISL and one that could propel his side to great things was not firing and added to the side’s worries.

It was time for Alexandre Guimarães, the former Costa Rican player and the current Mumbai City FC gaffer to sit down and get on the drawing board. Mumbai City FC had to regain their momentum and get back. A lot of work was needed on and off the field.

There seemed to be an instant effect as Mumbai City trounced the favoured Atletico de Kolkata side before getting the better of NorthEast United FC, sandwiched on either side of a 1-1 draw against the defending champions Chennaiyin away.

Emphatic response

Mumbai City FC looked like a side back in the hunt and on course to progress. But, in as competitive a league as the ISL, nothing comes easy. Mumbai City FC got an instant taste of that as they went down to state rivals FC Pune City by a solitary goal before playing out a drab 0-0 draw with FC Goa.

Mumbai City FC do not seem like a side at the top of their game but there were certain positives to look at. Though the side has not won too many games or scored a host of goals, seldom have they conceded. Apart from the three against the Delhi Dynamos, Mumbai conceded just five goals in 10 games with a maximum of a goal in a game and kept five clean sheets.

With teams picking up and the difference between sides on the table meagre, it was Mumbai City FC’s last throw of the dice as they headed into the two quick games before a 10-day long gap. This was the time needed to fire and they did it in emphatic style. Five-nil and 2-0 are what the scorelines read in the favour, two more clean sheets accounted for.

The bigger positives were the fact that Mumbai City FC struck form in the business end of the tournament and fired on all cylinders. Sunil Chhetri was back in the line-up to add more creativity and spark to the frontline. Diego Forlan scored a hat-trick and created a goal and several other opportunities.

Can they go all the way?

This is not just it. Mumbai City FC will play their last match on Saturday at home against the Delhi Dynamos. They have a strong chance to finish top and play the second leg of their semi-final at home, a serious advantage in a double-legged tie.

To add to these, the likes of Lucian Goian and Sena Ralte have been the backbones of defence and have emerged as the best players in the league in their respective positions. Kristian Vadocz and Defederico too have been instrumental figures in Mumbai’s surge and with goals for either in the last game seem to have too got things right just at the right time.

Mumbai City FC seem to have all bases covered at the moment with the defence clicking, the midfield linking up well and even scoring while the frontline has been creating plethora of chances and converting quite a few.

If the Ranbir Kapoor side can keep their form going and build on the momentum, there is no reason why they cannot be the ones wrapping their hands around the trophy, come the final on December 18.