Mumbai, India, October 23, 2023
In their first match of the AFC Champions League, Mumbai City FC faced a challenging test against Al Hilal. The game took place at the DY Patil Sports Stadium in Navi Mumbai, India, and it was a tough start for the Indian side as they lost 0-2 to Al Hilal.
1. A Quick Deficit
The match began with Al Hilal dominating the proceedings. In the 27th minute, Michael from Al Hilal scored the opening goal, putting Mumbai City FC on the back foot right from the start.
2. The Uphill Battle
Mumbai City FC’s struggle intensified when Mehtab Singh received a red card in the 37th minute, leaving them with only 10 players on the field. With a man down and a goal behind, they faced an uphill task.
3. A Valiant Effort
Despite the disadvantage, Mumbai City FC fought valiantly. They displayed determination and resilience, trying to find an equalizer, but they couldn’t breach Al Hilal’s defense.
4. Al Hilal’s Dominance
Al Hilal maintained their dominance throughout the match. They were relentless in their attack and had a total of 20 shots on goal, showcasing their superiority over Mumbai City FC, who managed only four shots.
5. The Bottom of the Group
The defeat dealt a significant blow to Mumbai City FC’s AFC Champions League campaign. With this loss, they find themselves at the bottom of Group A. To have any hope of progressing to the knockout stages, they need to make a quick recovery.
Match Summary
- Al Hilal: 1 (Michael 27, Mitrovic 85’)
- Mumbai City FC: 0
Sent Off
- Mehtab Singh (37′)
Attendance
- 15,000
Player Ratings
- Phurba Lachenpa: 6: The goalkeeper made some good saves but couldn’t prevent Michael’s opening goal.
- Amey Ranawade: 5: The right-back struggled to contain Al Hilal’s attack.
- Mourtada Fall: 6: The center-back was solid in defense but couldn’t stop Michael from scoring.
- Mehtab Singh: 4: The center-back received a red card, leaving Mumbai City FC with 10 men.
- Lalengmawia: 5: The left-back wasn’t as effective as in recent games.
- Ahmed Jahouh: 5: The defensive midfielder was tidy in possession but lacked creativity.
- Bipin Singh, 6: The midfielder was energetic and hardworking but couldn’t create clear-cut chances.
- Greg Stewart: 5: The attacking midfielder was a threat but wasteful in front of goal.
- Vignesh Dakshinamurthy: 5: The winger was lively and direct but lacked composure in front of goal.
- Lalianmawia Ralte: 6: The striker troubled Al Hilal’s defense but couldn’t find the net.
Substitutes
- Cassio Gabriel (5) came on for Bipin Singh in the 65th minute but made limited impact.
- Alberto Noguera (5:1) entered for Greg Stewart in the 75th minute but couldn’t change the game.
- Diego Mauricio, N/A, joined Vignesh Dakshinamurthy in the 85th minute with little time to impact the match.
Manager
- Des Buckingham: 5: The head coach will be disappointed with the team’s performance but will be hoping for a better outcome in the next game.
This loss is a setback for Mumbai City FC, but they have the opportunity to bounce back in their upcoming matches in the AFC Champions League.