ISL 2020-21: NorthEast United 1-0 Mumbai City FC - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Kwesi Appiah’s second-half penalty was enough for NorthEast United to secure a 1-0 victory against Mumbai City FC in the second match of Indian Super League (ISL) 2020-21. In what was on paper a David versus Goliath battle, the Highlanders produced a sparkling display to subdue their much fancied opponents. Sergio Lobera’s men on the other hand leave the field with more questions than they had arrived with. Here are the Good, the Bad and the Ugly aspects from tonight’s match as the action unfolded at Tilak Maidan.

The Good: The triumvirate of Khassa Camara, Benjamin Lambot and Dylan Fox

Kwesi Appiah may take all the plaudits with his calmly taken penalty but it was NorthEast’s other foreign debutants Camara, Lambot and Fox who turned out to be the difference-makers on the night. The two centre-backs didn’t put a foot wrong in the entire match while Camara was like a solid screen in front of them, always alert and always available.

Mauritania international Camara was awarded with the Hero of the match award and rightly so after a brilliant performance in midfield. He was extremely calculative in his movements up and down the pitch and read the situation every time danger loomed around him. Lambot and Fox deserve credit too after completely nullifying Mumbai’s attack for most of the match including Bart Ogbeche, Adam Le Fondre and Hugo Boumous.

The Bad: Mumbai City FC failing to have a shot on target

Sergio Lobera’s Mumbai City side started the match on the front foot with Ahmed Jahouh, Rowlin Borges and Boumous dictating proceedings. Jahouh especially was at his fluid best as he made long diagonals look ridiculously easy, opening up space for his wingers and full-backs. It looked like only a matter of time before they would score but Jahouh’s red card changed the complexion of the game.

Ogbeche was stopped time and again by Camara (Source: ISL)

One would have expected them to come out in the second half and take the attack to NorthEast. However, they looked leggy and never really got into the game. What will worry Lobera though is the fact that his side failed to register even a single shot on target in the match. The closest the Islanders came to scoring was a couple of wayward long-rangers from distance and a Farukh Chaudhary turn and shot that was blocked by Fox in front of the 6-yard box. They will definitely have to work on their combination play upfront in the coming matches if they are to justify their favourites tag. Without Jahouh though, it will be even more difficult.

The Ugly: Ahmed Jahouh’s tackle on Camara that resulted in a red card

The worst moment in the match has to be Jahouh’s tackle on Camara in the 43rd minute. The Moroccan slid in to his midfield counterpart, going studs up on the side of his shin. His foot was off the ground and therefore he was not in control of the tackle. He would have anticipated what was coming the second he made contact with Camara without getting a touch on the ball.

The NorthEast midfielder had to be treated for a good two minutes following the incident. However, it was Mumbai City who were left licking their wounds as it laid the foundation for their opponents to take charge of the game and go on to win it in the second half.