ISL: Kotal’s momentary lapse hands Mumbai City a winning start

It is not for nothing that the legendary Johan Cruyff once preached: “Playing football is simple but playing simple football is difficult.”

Chennaiyin FC (CFC) learnt that lesson the hard way in its Indian Super League (ISL) season-opener as a momentary lapse of concentration led to a 0-1 defeat to Mumbai City FC (MCFC) here on Thursday. Pritam Kotal was the only player who rippled the right side of the net at the Mumbai Football Arena, but it was his rivals who left the field smiling.

Unfortunately for CFC’s co-captain, he left the door wide open for MCFC with his own goal, on a night when the host struggled to unlock the visitor’s defence. Kotal would have been both hurting and fuming at the conclusion of the contest, considering that he turned the ball in off a harmless delivery in the 49th minute. Joni Kauko earned what was a lucky assist when the CFC centre-back, despite being unchallenged in the area, diverted it in.

While CFC threw everything it had to level the score, MCFC weathered a mini storm at the end to kick off its campaign on the best possible note.

Overall, both teams were anything but clinical, and their rustiness was there for everyone to see in the opening period. Misplaced passes, stop-start action and speculative drives from long ranges formed the core of the goalless first half. In the end, it was a fatal mistake that decided the clash which yearned for attacking quality.

The result: Mumbai City FC 1 (Pritam Kotal 49-og) bt Chennaiyin FC 0.