Adam Le Fondre's penalty earns late win for Mumbai against 10-man Goa

Updated: May 17, 2023, 12:12 am

Faheem Hussain / Sportzpics for ISL

Summer signing Adam Le Fondre's 95th-minute penalty helped Sergio Lobera get his first win as Mumbai City FC manager against his former club FC Goa in Goa on Wednesday. Goa played much of the game with 10 men after winger Redeem Tlang was sent off with a straight red for a challenge on Hernán Santana. The penalty was a result of a handball from Lenny Rodrigues, while attempting to block Bipin Singh's header inside the box, and Le Fondre's emphatic finish into the bottom right corner gave the keeper Mohammad Nawaz no chance.

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Before going a man down, Goa were the better side, dominating possession and pressing Mumbai high. Even in the second half, despite being a man down, they remained fluent and created better chances, forcing Amrinder Singh into a couple of outstanding saves. Mumbai only came into the game late into the second half, with Le Fondre and Mandar Rao Dessai coming closest to finding a winner.

Lobera made three changes to the side that lost to NorthEast United in their opening game. Bartholomew Ogbeche and Mohamad Rakip dropped to the bench with Ahmed Jahouh suspended following his red card. Amey Ranawde, Cy Goddard and Mourtada Fall all came into the starting XI. Meanwhile, Goa coach Juan Ferrando named an attacking team. Left-back Saviour Gama was back after a suspension while Tlang and Alberto Noguera were selected ahead of Princeton Rebello and Jorge Ortiz.

Goa created the first chance of the game in the eighth minute when Noguera found Igor Angulo with a low cross, but the latter's poor first touch let him down. Mumbai looked promising every time Le Fondre was on the ball, but failed to record a single shot on goal in the first half.

Goa keeper Mohammed Nawaz almost gifted Mumbai a goal early in the second half when his last-ditch clearance brushed the onrushing Le Fondre, but the touch wasn't enough to send the ball into the net. Mandar Rao Dessai also squandered a great chance in the second half, sending the ball over the post from pin-point range off Le Fondre's low shot from the right.

The three points help Mumbai go up to fifth while Goa are down to seventh with just one point from their two games so far. Mumbai next face East Bengal on December 1, while Goa are up against NorthEast United on November 30.

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