Mumbai City FC vs Nassaji Mazandaran Highlights: MCFC 0 NMZ 2 - Islanders stunned at home by Iranian debutants

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Mumbai City 0️⃣ Nassaji Mazandaran 2️⃣

FT: MUM 0⃣-2⃣ NSJ

Not our night but a lot of takeaways from the game to get better.

Onto the next challenge now. 💪#MUMvNSJ #IslandersInAsia #MumbaiCity #AamchiCity 🔵 pic.twitter.com/dACFbVfnND

— Mumbai City FC (@MumbaiCityFC) September 18, 2023

It is a poor result for the Islanders, who start their campaign in the worst way possible. But they will have to shift the focus swiftly as the ISL campaign starts from Sunday. Mumbai City will be travelling to Guwahati to face Northeast United FC in the first match of the season.

FT: Mumbai City 0 Nassaji 2

It is all over in Pune and Nassaji stun Mumbai City in their own backyard. The Iranian debutants start in fantastic fashion with a 2-0 win as Ehsan Hosseini and Mohammad Reza Azadi scored the goals.

MCFC 0 NZM 2 (97')

A cross in the box for Mumbai City but Mazaheri fists it away. Greg Stewart takes another shot which is again repelled by Mazaheri and then Diaz shoots it wide.

Excellent play by Nassaji but Ismaily fails to send in a cross.

Added Time: 9 mins

9 minutes are added on. Mumbai City FC are still trailing 0-2 in this match.

Chhangte misses a sitter

Lallianzuala Chhangte misses a sitter. The cross was fantastic but the header from Chhangte is wayward.

Mumbai City vs Nassaji Live Score: MCFC 0 NZM 2 (80')

An injury to yet another Nassaji player, and this time it is Azadi who is holding his hamstring.

Vikram Partap squanders big chance

A fantastic ball from Vipin Singh and Vikram Partap Singh volleys it wide. That was a golden opportunity for the Islanders to get one goal back but they fail to do so.

MCFC 0 NZM 2 (75')

15 minutes away from the final whistle and the Iranian club is finding things easy for them at the moment.

Clash of Heads

Clash of heads between Akash Mishra and Mehrdad Abdi. Both players are on their feet and it is time for hydration break.

Mumbai City FC vs Nassaji Mazandaran LIVE: MCFC 0 NMZ 2 (72')

Greg Stewart gets the ball at the edge of the box, cuts inside and takes a right -footed curler. Mazaheri fails to grab the ball in the first attempt but then gobbles it at the second attempt.

Mumbai City FC vs Nassaji Mazandaran LIVE: MCFC 0 NMZ 2 (72')

Apuia finds Chhangte again but the pacey winger fails to create anything. Greg Stewart then finds Vipin Singh but the latter's cross is headed out by Houshmand.

Mumbai City FC vs Nassaji Mazandaran LIVE: MCFC 0 NMZ 2 (67')

Janmaleki takes a decent throw and then Hardani's cross is cleared. Mumbai City launch a counterattack but Lallianzuala Chhangte fails to put a cross into the box and loses the possession.

Two Yellow Cards for Mumbai

Jorge Pereyra Diaz and Yoell van Nieff both have gone into referee's book in quick succession. The Mumbai City players are losing their heads a bit.

Fight at the Stadium

The two sets of players are involved in a fight. That was an ugly one. Jorge Pereyra Diaz was one of the main instigators.

Goal - Nassaji

Goaaaaal!! A massive goal for Nassaji as Mohammed Reza Azadi scores. That was a mistake at the back from the hosts and Azadi had the pass on his plate.

Mumbai City FC vs Nassaji LIVE: MCFC 0 NZM 1 (61')

More than an hour passed and it is Nassaji who are still leading in this match.

Saber Hardani is down injured. It seems the Iranian has injured the back of his head.

Mumbai City FC vs Nassaji Mazandaran LIVE: MCFC 0 NMZ 1 (58')

Another chance for Mumbai City! Lallianzuala Chhangte got the ball but Mazaheri makes himself big and saves Chhangte's shot.

Mumbai City FC vs Nassaji Mazandaran LIVE: MCFC 0 NMZ 1 (57')

Greg Stewart pulls the bal brilliantly in the box but Lallianzuala Chhangte completely misses his shot and a huge chance evades for Mumbai City.

Off the Post

That was a superb delivery from the free kick and Nassaji was so close to making it 2-0. Unlucky for the Iranian club as Mohammadzadeh hits the post with his header.

Mumbai City FC vs Nassaji Mazandaran LIVE: MCFC 0 NMZ 1 (54')

Decent hold of possession by the visitors from the left hand side and Abbasi is then fouled by Lallianzuala Chhangte. Nassaji making a change as Zamehran comes off and Farshid replaces him.

Mumbai City FC vs Nassaji Mazandaran LIVE: MCFC 0 NMZ 1 (52')

A decent cross from Mumbai City but the ball is just cleared by Nassaji ahead of Jorge Diaz. The follow-up shot comes from Yoell Nieff but it is wayward and miles off target.

Mumbai City FC vs Nassaji Mazandaran LIVE: MCFC 0 NMZ 1 (48')

Tiri's long ball finds Chhangte, but the attempted cross is easily dealt by the away side.

Mumbai City FC vs Nassaji Mazandaran LIVE: MCFC 0 NMZ 1 (46')

Mumbai City FC start on the front foot in the 2nd half. They are trying to breach the Iranian defense but fail to do so in the first attempt of the 2nd half.

Mumbai City FC vs Nassaji Mazandaran LIVE: MCFC 0 NMZ 1

The 2nd half starts in Pune. Hosts Mumbai City have to turn things around as home matches are going to be crucial for them.

Mumbai City FC vs Nassaji Mazandaran LIVE: 2nd Haff, MCFC 0 NMZ 1

We are back at the Balewadi Complex in Pune for the 2nd half of the match.

Half Time Score

⚽

HT: MUM 0⃣-1⃣ NSJ

Lots of positives in the first half, but there's still work to do. Let's get cracking, #TheIslanders 💪#MUMvNSJ #IslandersInAsia #MumbaiCity #AamchiCity 🔵 pic.twitter.com/KV8OJfErJ1

— Mumbai City FC (@MumbaiCityFC) September 18, 2023

Mumbai City FC vs Nassaji Mazandaran LIVE: MCFC 0 NMZ 1 (HT)

It is half time in Pune and Nassaji are leading Mumbai City FC by a solitary goal scored be Ehsan Hosseini. The home side dominated the ball and created more chances, but it is the Iranians who have their noses ahead.