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Mumbai FC pulled off a dramatic 3-2 win scoring a goal in the last minute of the injury time to frustrate Prayag United SC in a 9th round match of the I-League at the Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday (December 2).
Ghana striker Yusuf Yakubu scored the winner in the 93rd minute sealed to seal the match in Mumbai FC’s favour. The goal came a minute after substitute striker Shanjkar Araon had equalised it for Prayag to make it 2-2.
Prayag United went ahead in the 29th minute off a Ranty Martins’ goal but the hosts could not sustain the momentum after the interval when the visitors came out of their defensive shell. Evams Quao restored parity in the 52nd minute before the Abhishek Yadav scored arguably the fastest goal as a substitute — within 10 seconds of his arrival in the 81st minute.
Prayag United did manage to level the issue through substitute Oraon two minutes into the injury time (90+2) before Yakubu scored the winner in the 93rd minute to remind his previous club the mistake of not retaining him this season.
The two opponents started on a breezy note and enjoyed a chance each in a span of two minutes within five minutes of the start. Mumbai midfielder Gabriel Fernandes saved Ranty’s fourth minute effort from the line before the Prayag united goalkeeper Ishan Debnath put a diving effort to save a half-volley from Evans Quao, in the fifth minute.
Earlier, Ranty Martins, the most prolific scorer in the history of I-League, broke the recent lull in his scoring sequence as putting Prayag in the lead in the 29th minute. He showed nice sense of opportunism latching on to an assist from K. Asif and lodged the ball into the net before the onrushing Mumbai FC custodian Louis Barreto could reach it.
Mumbai FC regrouped well after the break and put the host on the back foot when Quao nodded home a long freekick from Nicholas Rodrigues, seven minutes into the second half.
Mumbai FC continued to enjoy the edge and revamped its attack with the introduction of the season Abhishek Yadav, who replaced Ganriel Fernandes. Yadav ran straight in and volleyed home a corner from Rodrigues to justify his coach’s faith in him.