ISL 2015: Mendoza 2, Mumbai 0

 

Mumbai City FC (Blue) and Chennaiyin FC (White) players in action during the Indian Super League (ISL) match at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Friday.

The Colombian striker sets up a facile win for Chennaiyin FC.

Colombian striker Mendoza scripted another glorious win for Chennaiyin FC, this time against Mumbai City FC, in the ISL match at the D.Y. Patil Sports Stadium here on Friday. 

Watched by a little over 10,000 spectators, the 23-year-old, who scored the first hat-trick of this season against Goa FC, deployed his left foot deftly to beat goalkeeper Subrata Paul and used his head to score his second. The visitors first deflated the home team before outplaying it. It was Chennaiyin FC’s third straight win against Mumbai after the 5-1 and 3-0 victories in the inaugural year. 

Mendoza’s goals in the 60th and 66th minutes weren’t against the run of play. In fact, the numbers would have been more impressive for the Southern side had it not been for some courageous saves by Paul. 

Mendoza, Jayesh Rane, Raphael Augusto and Elano could have easily been on the scoresheet at the end of the first half. All of them sent pile-drivers towards the last line of defence, but Paul kept them at bay, especially the left-footers by the marauding Mendoza and Augusto. 

A superb deflection over the bar, just before half-time, when Elano took a direct free kick, reflected Paul’s powers of concentration and fighting spirit. 

The match began with the referee flashing the yellow card to Chennaiyin midfielder Thoi Singh for stamping on Lalchhuanmawia Fanai. Though Mumbai FC’s Ashutosh Mehta, Frantz Bertin, Cristian Bustos and Sony Norde were in an aggressive mood thereafter, it was Mendoza who got the first clear opportunity to have a go at the Mumbai citadel. 

Last year’s star Elano did much of the playmaking with fine support from Harmanjot Khabra and Augusto. Even if the home team enjoyed a higher percentage of possession, it was the likes of Mendoza, Elano and, to an extent, Rane who held attention, constantly posing danger. 

A goalless first-half was not a true reflection of the way the two teams played. Running hard, Norde came close to finding the back of the net, but defender Mehrajuddin Wadoo blocked the left-footer.

Although Norde continued to threaten, the writing on the wall was clear for Nicolas Anelka’s team, playing its first home match, once Mendoza struck twice in the second-half.