Kolkata: Mumbai City FC (MCFC) edge past Chennaiyin FC (CFC) with 5-3 in a thrilling third quarter-final of the 131st Durand Cup at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK).
Croatian striker Petar Sliskovic, Jockson Dhas and Rahim Ali scored for Chennaiyin however the decisive moment were all during the second half. Mumbai City FC move on to play the first semi-final against Mohammedan Sporting on September 14, 2022.
The first-half saw both the teams trying to measure each other. In the 19th minute, Chemnaiyin FC’s Ghanaian striker Kwame Karikari got injured and got replaced by Rahim Ali.
Ahmed Jahouh played Amay Ranawade inside the box to gift Mumbai City FC a penalty. Stewart took the kick to put the ball behind the net.
Tomas Brdaric got Ninthoi in place of Edwin Vanspaul at the break which turned out to be an investing substitution.
Goal came in the 59th minutes. Ninthoi got ahead of Rostyn Griffiths and directed a powerful header past a diving Lachenpa in the near post.
Mumbai anticipated the winner with Greg Stewart masterclass in the middle of the Chennaiyin FC half in the 78th minute. He focused the defenders towards him and released Bipin Singh on the left. However, Bipin’s cross was fended away by Debjit, nevertheless Chhangte came in the far post to make no mistake, tapped in his sixth of the tournament with ease.
With a minute to go for regulation time Ninthoi, who was keeping himself busy on the right flank., delivered another inviting floater inside the box. Fall was first to meet it but his clearing header went only as far as Jockson lurking at the far post. The substitute chested it down and unleashed a powerful right-footed volley which bulged the back of the net.
Chhangte was at it again however in the fourth minute of the first-half of extra-time. Greg Stewart took the free-kick after Gurkirat was fouled and the latter’s header found its way to Mourtada Fall at the far post. He volleyed back in towards the centre of the six-yard box and Chhangte was at the right place unmarked to head it past Debjit. It was his seventh of the Durand Cup.
CFC were still not giving up and in the 97th Ninthoi put Rahim Ali through and his shot beat Lachenpa, but rattled the bar and went out.
Stewart then got his second of the game and fifth of the tournament in the 100th minute. He went off on one of his solo square runs inside the box and feigned two attempts at a shot before letting go with his left in the third, to beat Debjit comprehensively.
If Mumbai thought the game had been put to rest, they would be surprised. CFC got a corner in the second half of extra-time and Thapa delivered the assured ball. After a few touches the ball fell for Duker who pulled out of a shot but passed cleverly to Rahim to his left. The Indian striker bulged the net with a thunder strike.
With CFC chasing the game furiously it was Stewart who finally sealed the deal for the Islanders. On a counter, Chhangte found Stewart’s run and played him on. The Scotsman with a marker on his shoulder, pulled away and placed with his favourite left-foot past a diving Debjit to complete a well-deserved hat-trick and his sixth of the 131st IndianOil Durand Cup.
Mumbai City FC – 5 (Greg Stewart 40’ 100’ 118’ Chhaangte 78’ 94’)
Chennaiyin FC- 3 (Sliskovic 59’ Jockson Dhas 89 Rahim 112’)
