New Delhi: Mumbai City FC went top of the Hero Indian Super League table with a 1-0 win over NorthEast United FC before almost 30,000 fans at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Saturday evening.
Making his first start of the season, Jackichand Singh scored the only goal of the match in the 45th minute after a goalkeeping error led to an easy finish for the winger.
Diego Forlan threaded a beautiful ball to play Jackichand in on goal as early as the sixth minute. The India winger got to the ball before an onrushing NEUFC custodian Wellington Gomes but his shot flew just wide of the target to the delight of the home fans.
Forlan put in a dangerous free-kick from the left eight minutes later to find Leo Costa for a free header inside the six-yard box. Mailson Alves though did just about enough to prevent Costa from keeping his effort on target.
The Highlanders’ first opportunity came in the 20th minute after Katsumi Yusa put Holicharan Narzary in on goal with a delightful through ball. Narzary controlled the ball and closed in on goal before sending his left-footed strike wide of the target.
NorthEast started to grow into the game with Katsumi setting up Emiliano Alfaro 10 minutes later. The Uruguayan produced a brilliant first-time goal-bound volley but Albino Gomes was equal to the task and pulled off a spectacular save.
The visitors went in front on the stroke of half-time following a goalkeeping error by Gomes. NorthEast’s Brazilian custodian got caught with the ball at his feet by Sony Norde, who set up Jackichand for an easy finish to put Mumbai 1-0 up at the break.
