Odisha FC suffered third defeat in four games when they went down to Mumbai City FC 0-2 in the 18th match of the 7th Hero Indian Super League at the GMC Stadium, Bambolim in Goa today. A penalty from Batholomew Ogbeche in the 30th minute and a header from Rowllin Borges in the 45th gave Mumbai City FC their third successive win in four games and their first-win ever over Odisha FC.

The win sent Mumbai City FC to the top of the table, level on points with ATK Mohun Bagan, albeit with a better goal difference. Mumbai predictably started the game spraying around passes and enjoying most of the ball. But it was Odisha who enjoyed the first real chance of the match, in the fourth minute, when a freekick by Diego Mauricio clipped the top of the crossbar. But that was about as good as it got for Odisha in the first half.

The first clear-cut opportunity for the Mumbai team came in the 18th minute when Ahmed Jahouh found Cy Goddard down the right. Goddard only had keeper Kamaljit Singh to beat but his shot went over the bar. Twelve minutes later though, Mumbai had their goal.

A cross from the edge of the box by Vignesh Dakshina Murthy struck Shubham Sarangi on the hand and the referee promptly pointed to the spot. The decision was a harsh one by the referee because Sarangi did not handle the ball intentionally.

However, Ogbeche stepped up and fired a low shot to the left, which a diving Kamaljit could not get his fingers to. It was the third penalty Odisha had conceded this season and the second mistake that Sarangi had committed, which had led to a goal.

Just four minutes later, Mumbai thought they had scored again when Mourtada Fall headed in Jahouh freekick at the far-post. However, the referee disallowed the goal, adjudging that there had been a foul on keeper Kamaljit. The latter, who fell awkwardly, was substituted after a suspected concussion and reserve keeper Ravi Kumar came on in his stead.

Hugo Boumous missed a great chance to score in the 43rd minute, firing wide a pass from Bipin Singh. But Mumbai had their second a couple of minutes later. Bipin, again, fired in a great cross into the box which Borges headed past Kumar. Odisha managed to create precious little save a couple of freekicks and a few corners. In the end, it turned out to be a comfortable win for Mumbai.

Rowllin Borges pocketed the prize as the Hero of the Match, while his teammate Bipin Singh claimed the Winning Pass of the Match Award. The Club Award of the match also went to Mumbai City FC.
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PHOTO: Bartholomew Ogbeche successfully converts the spot-kick to score the opening goal for Mumbai Citin y FC against Odisha FC in their ISL match in Bambolim, Goa on 6 December, 2020.