Mohammedan Sporting– 0 () Mumbai City FC- 1 (Bipin Singh 90’)
Kolkata,Wednesday, September 14, 2022:

Mumbai City FC (MCFC) reached the finals of the 131st
IndianOil Durand Cup, overcoming local giants Mohammedan Sporting (MDSP) 1-0 in the first semifinal played here at the Vivekananda YubaBharati Krirangan (VYBK). Bipin Singh got the all-important
strike in the final minute of regulation time, courtesy a Lallianzuala Chhangte assist. This will be the
Islanders first ever final in Asia’s oldest tournament in their very first appearance. It was an exciting
match with the local side dominating for large parts, but the Islanders clinched the deal when it mattered.
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The Black and White brigade rattled the Islanders in the first 15 mins of the game, winning as many as
three corners in that time and players like Prtiam Singh and Sk. Faiaz switching flanks and looking
dangerous on both of them. In that period, all the Islanders managed a free-kick which was wasted by
Greg Stewart.
The game evened up at the half-hour mark with MCFC slowly asserting control. They forced about three
corners in about five minutes and from the first one, Mourtada Fall got the first real chance to score but
Ndiaye was up to the task at the heart of the Mohammedan defense.
The Black and Whites also did not let up on their intensity to their credit, despite the pace at which they
started, but the best chance of the half came to Gurkirat when Bipin Singh drove in from the left and
crossed, but the burly Islanders forward missed to tap in from close.
In between, the Islanders did loose Amay Ranawade to injury in the 22nd minute and Des Buckingham
had to bring in Madar Rao Desai, perhaps a bit earlier than he wanted to. The half ended honours even.
Mohammedan began the second half with the same vigour and just five minutes in, the ball fell kindly
for Abhash Thapa after a lovely team move involving Marcus and Faiaz, but he failed to test keeper
Lachenpa with a horribly mistimed connection.
Mumbai came back with a vengeance soon however when Greg Stewart played a 1-2 with Gurkirat and
broke inside to shoot towards goal, but Zothanmawia probably brought off the save of the tournament to
deny the Scotsman.
Cheryshov then made his first move at just over the hour mark, bringing in Abhishek Halder in place of
Azhar Mallick. Des Buckingham too made a couple of changes soon after bringing in Mehtab Singh and
Noguera Ripoll in place of Gurkirat and Griffiths.
There was no let-up in the Mohammedan attacks however and they came close thrice in the space of five
minutes or so. Marcus first in the 64th minute came dangerously close with a free-kick which brushed
the side-netting. Then in the 68th minute, Pritam once again broke in from the left and found Marcus free
with his cross but the Trinidadian’s volley was off target. A minute later Pritam himself got a lay-off
from Faiaz in an inviting position, but his shot was deflected out for a corner.
The fact that they failed to score despite such dominance would come back to haunt them. Just as
everyone thought that the match would go to extra-time, Greg Stewart spotted a Chhangte free-run on
the right flank and played him. The diminutive winger dashed inside the box and played square for an
onrushing Bipin Singh to tap home.
Mumbai City will await the winners of the second semi-final on Thursday between Bengaluru FC and
Hyderabad FC, which will be played at the VYBK itself.