Captain Taisuke Matsugae scored a goal and did the spadework for another as Mumbai FC broke their winless and goalless streak by getting the better of Salgaocar SC of Goa 2-1 in a third round match of the I-League football here today.
The Mumbai outfit enjoyed a slender 1-0 half-time advantage at the Cooperage football ground.
After failing to score in 180 minutes of play in their first two games, Mumbai FC finally ended the goal drought when Japanese midfielder Taisuke blasted home the opening goal in the 37th minute.
Later Sushil Kumar Singh did well to put the finishing touches from a Taisuke assist in the 48th minute.
Despite trailing 0-2, the Goans fought on gamely and came up with a couple of raids to put Mumbai FC defence under pressure and found the net in the 66th minute through Jackichand Singh.
In the 85th minute, Salgocar nearly got the equaliser, but Darryl Duffy's header off a Gurjinder Singh free-kick graced the upright and sailed over.
Both teams showed little urgency at the start.
But midway through the first session, Mumbai FC coach Khalid Jamil's decision to switch Eric Brown with Jayesh Rane on the left midfield helped their attack come to life.
The hosts messed up a few chances with Izumi Arata and Taisuke missing the target.
However, Taisuke atoned for his miss when he found the target with a rasping right-footed drive from just outside the box. Salgaocar's custodian Karanjit Singh managed to get his finger tips to the ball but could not prevent it from entering the goal.
On the stroke of the half-time, Mumbai FC goal survived a scare when goalkeeper Pawan Kumar fumbled to collect Gurjinder Singh's free-kick from the right. The ball deflected off his hands and struck the crossbar. He again failed to collect cleanly but defender Min-Chol Son, who had a good game, cleared the ball away for a corner.
Soon after resumption, the Mumbai side doubled the lead when Sushil Kumar Singh did well to put the finishing touch after Taisuke, later declared the man of the match, had done the spadework.
Jackichand pulled one back for the Goans when he sent a long chip from the right which eluded the outstretched hands of Mumbai goalkeeper Pawan Kumar and dipped into the far corner of the net.
Thereafter, Salgaocar continued to pile on the pressure but they were kept in check by some resolute defending.
Veteran Dias started the move, this time from inside
his own half, as he put Brown in possession near the half line and the latter smartly evaded a couple of tackles from the rival defenders before setting up Sushil who chased the ball and fired to the top right corner giving Paul no chance to make a save.
The visitors did not create too many chances in the first half and just one attempt in the first half when Sampath Kuttimani ballooned over from inside the box in the 43rd minute.
The second half was more or less on even lines. But only during this period the Pune outfit showed more urgency but could create much of an impact.
Mumbai FC struck the fourth and last goal through Brown in the 90th minute. The Liberian was later adjudged 'Man-of-the-match' and received a cheque of Rs 10,000.
