A stunning hat-trick from Brazillian Andre Moritz and a goal each from Subash Singh and Johan Letzelter guided Mumbai City to a dream home debut in the Indian Super League as they thrashed FC Pune City 5-0 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Saturday.
The game will enter the ISL record books for two reasons –Moritz's hattrick is the first of the ISL and the 5-0 goal difference is the highest so far.
Mumbai's coach Peter Reid had promised that his team would play an offensive and passing game on a natural turf, and they didn't disappoint. They gave the near capacity stadium an evening to remember, with their swift passing and fiery counter-attacks. The Pune defenders had a nightmarish evening as their opponents seemed to be perennially on the offensive, attacking at will.
Though FC Pune looked the more attacking side in the first 10 minutes, Mumbai took the lead in the 12th minute. A brilliant counter attack saw Moritz receive the ball just outside the penalty box. He gave a dummy shot — which foxed two defenders — before curling it past the right of Emanuele Belardi who was manning Pune's citadel.
Pune had a chance to equalise in the 22nd minute, when their marquee player, Frenchman David Trezeguet pounced on a loose ball and tried a spectacular overhear kick, but sadly, it hit the crossbar. Perhaps Pune would rue that miss chance which could have proved a game changer.
Moritz doubled the lead for Mumbai in the 27th minute tapping the ball into the net from a Lalrindika Ralte corner. Pune City didn't know what hit them and they were appealing for hand ball, but the referee refused to listen to their pleas.
The most athletic player on the field was Mumbai City forward Subash Singh. He kept chasing every loose ball and making runs down the middle. He was rewarded for his efforts in the 37th minute when he received the ball just inside the box. He made no mistake, firing it low and hard to find the right bottom corner. Belardi did dive to attempt a save, but the shot was just too powerful.
Subash had the opportunity to double his tally just before the halftime when all he had to do was put the ball past the outstretched keeper, but he mishit his shot, sending it just wide of the post.
Pune surely must have got a good dressing down from their coach Franco Colomba during halftime, for they came out all guns blazing in the second half.
To give home fans some more cheer and perhaps to break Pune's rhythm, Reid decided to bring on Mumbai's marquee player Freddie Ljungberg in the 68th minute. That move seemed to work wonders as Ljungberg started a move from the midfield which saw Moritz gain possession nearly 20 yards outside the box. He tricked a defender before slotting it past the goalkeeper to finish the first hattrick of the ISL and take Mumbai's score to 4-0.
Just when one thought that it couldn't get any worse for Pune, Nadong Bhutia cut it from the right wing, entered the box and passed it beautifully to Johan Letzelter, who made no mistake in whacking it past the keeper. And with that, Mumbai finished their rout and managed to salvage some pride after their 0-3 opening game loss to Atletico de Kolkata.
Reid was ecstatic after the win, but said it didn't come easy. "They (Pune) hit the bar when we were 1-0. I think we controlled the game only after making it 2-0." Reid refused to celebrate the win, instead said he is already thinking about the next game.
"The win is great for our confidence. Surely everyone will forget the 0-3 loss now. I think we got the ball where we wanted it to be. Subash and Moritz got into the right attacking areas, so it's excellent for the team. Plus, they got some quality goals."
He also was amazed with the home support as 28,000 people showed up for the game, quite a big number for football matches in Mumbai.
"The crowd was fantastic. They really got behind us. That motivated us a lot."
Despite the win, Reid said his team hadn't hit full potential. "Let Anelka and Ljungberg play full game. Then you'll see," he said.
Mumbai City take on NorthEast United FC at home on October 24. anil.dias@dnaindia.net
Stopwatch: Mumbai City FC 5 (Moritz 12, 27, 71, Subash 37, Letzelter 85) bt FC Pune City 0
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