Mumbai and Goa are in very similar situations where they have to win their games and hope for the best. The day before, Goa failed to do that due to a combination of variables, it was now down to Alexandre Guimaraes to make sure his side did not follow the same path as Goa. If they hadn’t picked up the three points it would’ve been a nigh on impossible task for Mumbai, however, Lucian Goian saved the day with a stoppage-time winner after inadvertently scoring in the wrong end in the first half. Let’s take a look at five talking points from the game:
#1 Rehnesh Paramba loves the cameras.
The NorthEast keeper pulled off some wonderful saves against Mumbai, but, you can’t help but wonder if the theatrics were needed at times. Credit where it’s due, though, he kept the away side in the game at times. Rosario must have been sick of the sight of him by the end of the game as the Indian keeper prevented the Brazilian twice from set pieces. He also pulled off a spectacular save to keep Everton Santos at bay, however, Santos had the last laugh.
#2 What might have been for NorthEast?
It’ll be very interesting to see if Avram Grant stays on at NorthEast next season as you can see them getting better in patches. Patches being the operative word, though. Sometimes you forget who you are watching as they string together pass after pass and how they’re bottom of the league does beggar belief, but the same could be said about Delhi, though. A key point in the game was just before NorthEast took the lead; Fanai Lalrempuia, who was given a rare start, played in John Mosquera who could have taken a touch. Instead, he hit it first time and the ball ended up in the car park behind the stadium.
#3 Lambent Leo Costa Shines.
He may have only been on the pitch for just over twenty minutes including second-half stoppage time, but what a difference Leo made. He has been outshone this season by his countrymen Everton and Thiago Santos but yesterday, he showed his worth to Guimaraes. Not long after coming off the bench, he won a free kick on the edge of the area and he brought himself to his feet to take it. I was adamant it took a deflection the first time I saw it, but, it turns out it had a wicked amount of bend on it. Remember Roberto Carlos’ banana kick (how could you not?)? It wasn’t as good as that but if it had gone in I’d have been waxing lyrical about it. In the same phase of play, the ball came back to him on the edge of the area and he uncharacteristically blazed over. A goal was the only thing missing from his cameo.
#4 Everton Santos Is Mint.
PSG signed this lad when he was in his early twenties and it’s not difficult to see why. He’s scored three goals in his last five games and he is key to Mumbai if he ticks then so do Mumbai. The Brazilian had three shots on target and Paramba seemed to have the better of him but just after half time, he linked up well with Sehnaj as he correctly assumed where Sehnaj’s header was going and finished first time beyond Paramba who was too slow to react. I hope that Santos one and two stay in the ISL for many seasons to come.
#5 Lucian Goian – From Zero To Hero
It was a weird old game for the Romanian. After Emana had put Mumbai in the lead from a well-taken goal, Goian decided to spice things up and knock a wayward shot into the goal. To be fair, the keeper should have given him the call to leave it, but it all happened so fast, it’s difficult to really blame anyone in particular. Eleven minutes later, Goian got booked for a foul and eight minutes after that Sambinha gave NorthEast the lead. He was completely unmarked from the corner and considering Goian is the skipper, he should have organised the defence better. We’ve already discussed Everton’s goal which made it 2-2, so we’ll finish with Goian’s goal which won the game. In stoppage time, Raju Gaikwad whipped a telling ball into the box and there he was, the man of the hour, to volley home. Goian and Mumbai live to fight another day.
