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Prayag United SC paid price for their complacent game as host Mumbai
FC rode on to a brace from striker Gbeneme Friday, who scored on the either side of the half-time in the Round XII match of the I-League football championship at the Balewadi Sports Complex ground here this evening, in beating the Kolkata outfit 3-1.
Prayag had itself to blame for playing such a sedate game that allowed Mumbai FC to play on the offensive and take chances which otherwise were missing from their repertoire in the early rounds of the league.
The back-to-back win for Mumbai FC, after having beaten HAL last week, will lift the Khalid Jamil’s side morale.
Mumbai FC played attacking game from the start to score even before Prayag could settle in, Friday put Mumbai in front with a well taken goal after he received a pass from Abhishek Yadav from the left wing. For rest of the first half, Mumbai defended well and even as Prayag tried to sneak into the hosts’ forte, Dhanachandra Leihaorungbham-led defence foiled their moves.
It was end of a well-begun campaign as Prayag United SC stared at a mini-slump on Wednesday as this was their fourth match without a win. Mumbai FC jumped to eighth place in the I-league table after 12 rounds, while Prayag remains on sixth position as Pune FC is waiting to upstage them having played one less match and on same points as 18.
On the change of ends, Mumbai played with purpose and were as ease keeping the ball in possession. Prayag’s attacks were blunted as the home defence stood firm. Mumbai doubled their lead in the 70th minute when Friday pounced on the opportunity once again and fired home a scorcher of a goal.
Even as Prayag scored late to reduce the margin, but in dying moments Kuttimani scored to make it 3-1 for Mumbai, who next face Chirag United Kerala next week while Prayag are away to Dempo SC.
