Third winless game for MCFC-ISL updates

Third winless game for MCFC-

Fans were miffed, they wanted a win, and Odisha FC seemed like the perfect opponents for it. MCFC had slown down due to a 3-0 loss to Kerala Blasters and a 3-3 draw due to a Deshorn Brown hattrick versus NorthEast United FC. Odisha FC themselves were on a 4 game winless streak. MCFC had scored 20 goals in this ISL edition, the most, while Odisha had CONCEDED the most(20).

Formations-

• MCFC had lined up with their regular 4231 except Vignesh Dakshinamurthy was playing Left Back. We also formed a back 2 during possession during buildup from behind instead of a back 3 before.
• Odisha FC played a “mid pressing” 442. The forwards pressed strong and if they couldn’t recover, they allowed MCFC till their half.

Events in the match-

• Aridai Cabrera dribbled past Ranawade and Fall beautifully to shoot it. It teased Nawaz’s fingers and went in. 1-0 in the 3^rd minute! First time MCFC conceded in the first 15 minutes!
• The game looked like it’d be a high scoring one from the get go.
• Odisha showed excellent chemistry, but Mumbai City also were knocking on their doors long, and finally it worked!
• Cassio passed to Ranawade who passed it to Jahouh who curled it from outside the box!! 1-1 !
• Cassio’s no. 7 looked like a misnumber since he looked like a true 10! He looked very active in this game. Taking the ball, dribbling, and distributing it.
• Now the Islanders seemed to be on the front foot as Jahouh’s freekicks and other assortment of miscellaneous combinations of Des’s fluid attack threatened the Kalingans.
• On the left wing, Bipin and Antonay had GREAT clashes.
• Vignesh was back from injury and had a stellar performance. He is a more offensive version of Mandar Rao Dessai.
• It was the 37^th minute, half time was nearing as Thoiba pulled Cassio. Jahouh took a deep breath. He’s an FK veteran and he didn’t disappoint, as his ball was hit by Angulo into the net!! 2-1!!!
• 6^th Jahouh Freekick assist. MCFC the only team to have double digits in non set piece goals(12) and set piece goals(10).
• It was the 67^th minute as Jahouh took a freekick. Newly subbed-in Ygor Catatau scored a BEAUTIFUL header, but it was ruled off as offside, though it didn’t look so….still 2-1!
• If it were 3-1, the game would’ve ended!
• Odisha FC countered at alightning pace before MCFC could react. Left Mid Nandha dribbled Ranawade to cross the ball in. Newly subbed-in Mandar Rao Dessai failed to stop the pinpoint accurate pass, which was headed by RM Jerry, the most diminutive player on the pitch. 2-2!
• Suddenly, the tables had turned. OFC were on the front foot. Mumbai tried long balls to score, desperate and surprised by the sudden equalizer. They’d come for 3 points and had no intentions of sharing.
• 76’ , Nandha again ran on OUR right flank, passed the ball inward to a midfielder. The midfielder passed the ball to Jonathas(ex Eredivisie, Bundesliga, Serie A, Brasil league, La Liga player) who gave it to Jerry for him to bang it past a flabbergasted Nawaz.
• 3-2!! Mumbai, yet again looked scared, but had hopes for an equalizer. Also, they weren’t pathetic, but many of their attacks were thwarted by the Kalingans’ defense and talented GK Kamaljeet Singh!
• Catatau was frustrated and reckless, causing unnecessary fouls and a yellow.
• Mandar Rao Dessai indirectly was the cause of our downfall as he was repeatedly dribbled past by Jerry. Jerry did the same in the 89^th minute and crossed it for Jonathas to tap the ball in. 4-2!!!!
• Mumbai couldn’t do anything effective even in the last 5 minutes of stoppage time, as we were stopped by Odisha!

Conclusions-

• No ISL team is invincible in the ISL. The top 7 teams have a difference of ONLY 3 points.
• We can’t pinpoint the reason of our slump, but Mumbai, according tome still aren’t pathetic like Barca or Man. United. Its seems to me a bad run of form, coupled with bad luck and defensive irresponsibility.
• A 442 seems tough for us to break as majority of our goals versus such teams come from set-pieces and concessions from counters. Best examples being versus Chennaiyin, Hyderabad, Kerala Blasters and Odisha FC
• They catch our defenders sleeping and score. Our defenders are good at playing WITH the ball and at scoring.Even our wing-backs are offensive, along with CDMs who focus more on on-the-ball movement, passing, possession. Yet it’s the speedy, Mourinho-esque Anti-football which can stop us.
• We’re top of the table and will 99% qualify for the top 4 ISL trophy, but we need to be careful now!