With Anelka, Moritz in the team, Mumbai City FC fail to find the net for third match in a row, this time against FC Goa
Mumbai City FC can boast they haven't conceded any goals for five consecutive games, but then, they haven't scored for three games on the trot either.
Mumbai played out another goalless draw, this time against FC Goa at the DY Patil Stadium in Nerul on Monday. Despite a strike combo of Nicolas Anelka and Andre Moritz, it is evident that they are struggling in the attacking front.
Mumbai City coach Peter Reid believes that home fans are important. But on Monday, it seemed as though FC Goa were the hosts. Almost half the number of spectators were cheering for Zico and his boys. More spectators were seen wearing FC Goa's blue jersey. The noise in the stadium was the loudest whenever Arsenal legend Robert Pires had the ball at his feet.
Neither side dominated possession, but Mumbai went on the offensive from the whistle. In the sixth minute, Mumbai's Jan Stohanzl floated a ball for Frenchman Anelka. Goa's Gregory Arnolin made a mess of the clearance, giving Anelka a shot on goal. However, his shot just went above the crossbar. That shot was the start of Anelka's poor show. He didn't produce moments of magic that he is known for, though occasionally, he did look threatening.
FC Goa tried to break Mumbai's momentum with Pires trying to slow down the game. However, Mumbai's midfield marshal Stohanzl broke up a couple of Goa threats.
Goa got their first chance when midfielder Gabriel Fernandes carried the ball from the half line to the top of the box. A couple of his teammates were asking for the ball, but Fernandes went for glory, taking an in-step. The shot wasn't that powerful, but it forced Mumbai goalkeeper Subrata Paul to make a diving save.
The 35th minute, was a moment of brilliance and madness. Jan Stohanzl dribbled past two players from the left flank and then squared behind for Anelka. The Frenchman flaoted it in for teammate, Andre Moritz who was waiting inside the box. The acrobatic Brazilian jumped high and went for a bicycle kick. The ball went wide of the post but the crowd was ecstatic.
The best chance for Mumbai came in the 42nd minute. Moritz flicked the ball over a Goa player –Ronaldinho style — and then played it through to Lalrindika Ralte, who was in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper inside the box. The midfielder from Mizoram took a left-footed shot into the right bottom corner, but Goa goalkeeper Jan Seda pulled off a diving save. Mumbai must have rued that missed opportunity as the referee blew for halftime.
If Mumbai attacked viciously in the first half, it was time for Goa to do the same in the second. Zico's halftime talk must have been harsh for they came out all guns blazing. They kept on testing the Mumbai defence with some pin-point crosses and through balls. But Manuel Friedrich ensured that his backline kept calm and thwarted any attack.
As the game went into the final quarter, it seemed as though both sides were content passing the ball around in the midfield. Mumbai's first shot in the second half came only in the 83rd minute when Moritz took a sizzling left footed shot from outside the 18-yard box. The ball went flat and headed for the net but the cross bar denied the Brazilian.
Goa did have a couple of attacks in the final four minutes, but they weren't good enough to open the scoring.
Mumbai next host Chennaiyin FC on November 23 and if they want to qualify for the semifinal, they should definitely be looking to work on their scoring. Chennaiyin FC are second on the table and their defence is led by World Cup winner Marco Materazzi. Surely something for coach Reid to keep in mind.
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