Goa, March 12: A narrow 1-0 win was nowhere near enough for a desperate Mumbai City FC who were knocked out by FC Goa 5-2 on aggregate in the 2018-19 Hero Indian Super League semi-final at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Tuesday (March 12).
Rafael Bastos scored the only goal of the match in the sixth minute but the visitors struggled to take advantage of their early lead and score more goals. A resolute Goa stood firm to ensure a place in the final and will battle Bengaluru FC for the coveted trophy at the Mumbai Football Arena on Sunday.
Mumbai got off to a promising start and took the lead in the sixth minute. Arnold Issoko intercepted a sloppy pass from Ahmed Jahouh and dribbled forward through the centre. Issoko picked out Bastos' run into the box from the left and the Brazilian slotted the ball past goalkeeper Naveen Kumar.
Two brilliant chances for @MumbaiCityFC to double the lead but it was not to be!
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) March 12, 2019
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Jahouh was pickpocketed again midway through the first half and Bastos sent Modou Sougou clear into the box. Naveen pulled off a good save and the rebound was cleared by a recovering Mourtada Fall.
A Paulo Machado strike from outside the box was deflected off target by Jahouh and a Bastos free-kick flew over the bar before the break as Mumbai piled the pressure on Goa and sought more goals. At the other end, a Jackichand Singh cross was headed wide by Hugo Boumous, leaving the Mumbai defenders on their toes.
.@MumbaiCityFC have taken an early lead in #GOAMUM, but still have a lot to do in the second half if they want to reach the #HeroISLFinal. #HeroISL #LetsFootball #FanBannaPadega pic.twitter.com/Gc0aP1IWzq
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) March 12, 2019
Mumbai looked to increase their lead as the second half progressed but struggled to create clear-cut chances against a stable Goa defence and an alert Naveen Kumar.
Machado split the defence with a through-ball into the box for Bastos in the 70th minute but a sliding challenge from Seriton Fernandes and a clearance by Naveen denied the visitors.
Sougou came agonisingly close to scoring a goal late in the game as the striker's effort missed the post by a whisker.
A curling Matias Mirabaje free-kick was kept out by Naveen but a miraculous comeback was already out of sight by then as Goa marched into the final.
Source: ISL Media