ISL | NorthEast United goes down to Mumbai City at new home

Mumbai City players celebrate a goal.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

It was a dismal debut for NorthEast United (NEUFC) in its new home after it fell to a 0-2 loss at the hands of Mumbai City FC (MCFC) in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Friday.

Bipin Singh scored in the closing stages of the first half while Lallianzuala Chhangte hammered the final nail in the coffin in stoppage time to take all three points.

It was one-way traffic for the majority of the first half with NEUFC failing to convert its chances to take the lead. Ajaraie’s left-footed shot from outside the box whizzed just wide of the left post in the 26th minute while Nestor Albiach’s attempt from close range two minutes later was frantically pushed away by Phurba Lachenpa.

However, all of its attacking prowess was undone by a thumping header from Bipin in the 41st minute, after running onto an inch-perfect cross from Brandon Fernandes.

MCFC was a much-improved side at the start of the second half, with Hmingthanmawia Ralte and Chhangte testing the opposition keeper with efforts from outside the box.

At the other end, Lachenpa kept his side’s lead intact in the 54th minute after producing a fine save to stop Buanthanglun Samte’s left-footed shot from inside the box.

Chhangte put the game to bed in the second minute of added time after bringing down the ball in the middle of the pitch and using his pace to race into the box and place it into the bottom right corner.

The result lifted MCFC to fourth in the table with 31 points from 19 games while NEUFC dropped to fifth with 29 points from 20 games.

The result: NorthEast United FC 0 lost to Mumbai City FC 2 (Bipin 41, Chhangte 90+2).