Airtel i-League 2013-14
15.12.2013
Ragdajied United 1-1 Mumbai FC
RUFC: Yohei Iwasaki(19th)
MFC: Yusif Yakubu(36th)
Yohei Iwasaki put the hosts into the lead before Yousif Yakubu equalised, all within the first half.
The two evenly matched clubs took some time in getting a feel for each other and the very cold conditions may have played a part in that.
Mumbai’s defence, in fact, took nearly half an hour to get their game together with some of their performances bordering on the farcical.
The hosts opened up Mumbai’s back line in the 18th minute with a cross from Munmun Lugun that picked out Edmar Figueira unmarked in the box. It was only because the Brazilian needed a couple of seconds to bring the ball under control that his shot was blocked by a defender.
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| Yohei Iwasaki was on target for Rangdajied United FC against United SC, Airtel i-League 2013-14 |
Figueira was again in the thick of the action in the 25th minute. In the box, he lost possession of the ball, but a lazy clearance saw Manandeep Singh pounce, although his effort was blocked.
Mumbai’s lack of control at the back meant that the visitors’ strikers rarely saw any of the ball. Rangdajied created a couple more opportunities to double the lead, but without success.
The dangerous Nigerian striker Yakubu restored parity for Mumbai in the 36th minute after the Blues defence was caught napping a little. He was fed a through ball on the left and he sprinted up unchallenged. Darting in at the last minute, he was forced to negotiate a tight angle but placed the ball perfectly past Rangdajied goalie Subrata Paul.
There was further action in the first half, including an almost disastrous lapse by Rangdajied’s defenders, but neither club could change the scoreline and the two teams went into the break 1-1.
RUFC made all three of their changes by the 84th minute, bringing on David Ngaihte for Tomba Singh, T Lalnunpuia for Munmun and Sandesh Gadkari for Manandeep.
The tourists just made the one change, introducing Anwar Ali for NP Pradeep.
The home team and their thousands of fans thought they had taken back the lead in the 65th minute when a Figueira header off a corner was saved by goalkeeper Nidhin Lal, with the hosts convinced the ball had crossed the goal line as the save was being made. The assistant referee was unmoved by the Blues’ protestations, however and 1-1 it remained.
This was Rangdajied’s best chance as they made a few too many mistake up front that stifled their attacks.
The hosts received an advantage in numbers when Sandesh Jhingan was shown a red card in the 83rd minute for elbowing Figueira as both went for a header. Rangdajied pressed to make that count but the Mumbai defence held on stoically for the last few minutes to come away from Shillong with a point.
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