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Hero ISL 2017/18: The Islanders begin their home campaign with a 2-1 win over FC Goa

Thiago Santos scores right in the end to win all three points for our home side who came back from a defeat

Hero ISL 2017/18: The Islanders begin their home campaign with a 2-1 win over FC Goa
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Mumbai City FC bagged their first three points of the season with a home win against visitors FC Goa at the Mumbai Football Arena on Saturday.

Brazilian duo Everton Santos and Thiago Santos scored on either side of Manuel Arana's equaliser which came in the 83rd minute which seemed like would do the trick and bag a point for FC Goa but Thiago Santos had other plans.


First Half

The game started with FC Goa seeing more of the ball and MCFC's defence being well organised. The centre backs were at their best to deal with any danger that came in their way. The first real chance came in the 20th minute when Ferran Corominas found space behind Gerson Vieira but Lucian Goian was there to make a block and Amrinder Singh made a comfortable save.

The Islanders got into their act soon with striker Balwant Singh trying to play Everton Santos through on goal and Seriton Fernandes intervening to see the ball go past his keeper and hit the frame of the goal. Although, the goal would have not counted since Achille Emana was ruled offside by the linesman.

Everton Santos had a good chance to open up the scoring after intercepting a loose back pass from Manuel Arana, he got himself into the box but took time that helped Mohamed Ali block his shot and have another chance go away. In the added time of the first half, Amrinder Singh made a brilliant reflex save, almost defying all physical constraints, to deny Corominas from the six yard box and keep the score intact at half-time.

Second Half

The Islanders made a change at the break with Zakeer Mundampara coming on for Raju Gaikwad. Balwant had another opportunity that he tried to put into the bottom corner but ended up shooting straight at Kattimani. At the other end, Lanzarote tried to chip Amrinder only to see his effort hit the post & the home team breathed a sigh of relief.

The game was certainly getting exciting & the Islanders team took full advantage of this as Everton Santos opened the scoring by pouncing on an sloppy error from the Goa keeper who kept the ball at his feet for too long. Everton put in a slide to block a lazy clearance and managed to get the ball into the back of the net. The goal got the home crowd going and it was an important goal for the team's morale.

FC Goa had a goal ruled out for offside with Manuel Arana putting Coro through on goal with a one touch pass and he finished it well.

With 20 minutes to go, Zakeer was replaced by Mehrajuddin Wadoo as he was stretched off the field giving another injury headache to Alexandre Guimaraes. The experienced, Achille Emana showed his class by going past two defenders after receiving the ball from Ruidas who won the ball in the midfield, he was short on support up front and eventually saw his shot cleared away.

The Cameroonian’s shift ended after he was replaced by 22 year old, Thiago Santos who came on for his ISL debut. A counter attack from FC Goa got them back on level terms, Manuel Arana played a quick pass to Coro who fed the ball back to him & he finished it perfectly by beating Amrinder Singh in goal.

Amrinder was called into action making a fabulous save by saving a left footed effort from Lanzarote and following up with two good punches in the box from the corners that followed. Everton Santos did well to keep the Islanders push ahead and it paid off, he passed it to Thiago Santos who got past Mohamed Ali with a couple of stepovers and score from a tight angle. The keeper failed couldn't do much to keep it out and Thiago took full advantage of that by slotting the ball past him into the back of the net in the 88th minute.

The goal sealed a dramatic win for the Islanders with an action packed second half that had the crowd on their edge of their seats.

MCFC next play the first Maharashtra Derby against FC Pune City on November 29 at the Balewadi Stadium.

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