Sports

Mumbai stop Bengaluru's unbeaten run in ISL

PTI

Mumbai City FC stopped defending champion Bengaluru FC's unbeaten run with a 3-2 win in a keenly-contested Indian Super League match at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Sunday.

Subhasish Bose's (12th minute) gave Mumbai City an early lead, but an unfortunate Matic Grgic (58th ) own-goal gave the defending champions a lifeline.  Diego Carlos (77th) headed in what looked like the match-winner until Sunil Chhetri (89th) converted from the spot to equalise.

However, it was Rowllin Borges who scored the winner in the 94th minute as the the Mumbai side grabbed their first win since the opening game.

Mumbai climbed to the sixth spot with 10 points from eight matches, while Bengaluru's first defeat of the season pushed them to the third spot with 13 points.

The visitors broke the deadlock in the 12th minute. Larbi delivered a terrific cross into the box from the left flank and an unmarked Bose ghosted past the Bengaluru defence to head in at the far post.

Bengaluru were unable to mount an immediate response as Mumbai pressed well. A magnificent defence-splitting pass by Erik Paartalu caught the visitors' defence unawares midway through the first half. The Australian found Udanta Singh's run into the box perfectly, but the winger failed to make use of the chance and lobbed his effort over the crossbar.

Mumbai threatened to double their lead before the break. A Modou Sougou strike on target was kept out by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu before the Senegalese striker set up Mohamed Larbi inside the box who blasted his shot over the bar.

The visitors were awarded a penalty at the stroke of half-time when Amine Chermiti and Juanan ran into each other inside the box but Larbi was denied from 12 yards by the strong gloves of Gurpreet.

The Blues started the second half as the stronger side with an intent to press higher up the field and win the second balls.

Dimas Delgado nearly found an equaliser when the Mumbai defence failed to clear a long-throw-in into the box from the right flank. The Spaniard unleashed a curling strike from outside the box that Amrinder tipped away at full stretch.