Table toppers Mumbai City FC qualified for the semi-finals of the Indian Super league for the first time in three seasons after they outclassed defending champions Chennaiyin FC 2-0 here on Wednesday.
Mumbai scored a goal in each half through Matias Defederico (32nd minute) and Krisztian Vadocz (60th), and should have won by a much bigger margin but for India captain Sunil Chhetri muffing two of the three gilt-edged chances in the last 10 minutes of the game. Mumbai did not start the game at the frenetic pace they set during their 5-0 thrashing of Kerala Blasters at this same ground four days ago, but they clearly had the better of the exchanges with their slick passing upfront.
Chhetri, Defederico and captain Diego Forlan combined beautifully right through the game for Mumbai. The two teams had drawn 1-1 in the first leg encounter in Chennai earlier. The victory, Mumbai's sixth from 13 games, took their points tally to 22 which was enough for them to qualify for the play-offs after failing to do so in 2014 and 2015. In the last edition, teams gaining 22 points had made it to the play-offs and in 2014 teams having 19 points could qualify for the semis.
Chennaiyin's qualifying hopes, on the other hand, have receded considerably after suffering their fourth loss in 12 games. They remain in seventh spot with 14 points.
After coming near to scoring twice through Forlan and Chhetri whose cheeky back-heel was blocked by rival custodian Karanjit Singh, Mumbai took the lead with 13 minutes remaining in the first half.
Defederico was on hand inside the box to net the ball in with a left-footed shot following a delightful short passing game between Vadocz and Chhetri on the left side of the box. Chhetri back-passed to the Argentine who slotted the ball in, to the delight of the noisy supporters of the home team.
Crossing over, Chennaiyin had more of the play than in the first half but they just could not break through the Mumbai defence and on the contrary conceded the second goal too with just under half an hour left.
A power-packed volley by Vadocz from the top of the box after he chested the long back-pass from Forlan near the right corner flag could not be stopped by Karanjit despite him getting both hands to the ball with a dive to the right.