Sporting Clube hold Mumbai to 0-0 draw

Let down by poor finishing, Mumbai FC drew 0-0 with Sporting Clube de Goa in their first home I-League game at the refurbished Cooperage football stadium on Sunday.

The Mumbai club was positive in its approach and enjoyed total domination throughout the match but was forced to share honours with the visiting side after squandering chances. Mumbai FC took control of the proceedings from the opening whistle and created more better chances. Strikers Josimar Da Silva from Brazil and Mohammed Rafi received good support from the midfield, which missed the services of captain Climax Lawrence, but was guilty of muffing a few chances. They put a lot of pressure on the Sporting Clube defence and had three clear attempts at the rival goal inside the first 20 minutes, but without much luck.First in the eighth minute, left half Kuttymani did well to cut in from the left before tapping the ball into the path of Josimar. But the Brazilian was unable to direct his shot on target. 

Later Cletus Paul saw two his well-executed free-kicks saved by an alert Sporting Clube goalkeeper Ravi Kumar who had quite a busy time under the bar.

After the change of ends, Mumbai FC continued to hold the upper hand but failed to get a shot on target. In the 53rd minute the home team’s Japanese recruit Taisuke Matsugae combined with Rafi to break through only to fire straight into the hands of goalkeeper Kumar. Seven minutes later from a swift counter Josimar charged towards the goal but delayed in releasing the ball and the move was foiled.