The final day of Hero I-League this season saw relegation-threatened side Mumbai FC host DSK Shivajians at the Cooperage stadium. The home team recorded a comprehensive 4-0 victory with 3 first-half goals from Jayesh Rane, Eric Brown and Sushil Singh. Hero of the Match Eric Brown added another goal in the added minutes of the second half to seal all 3 points for Mumbai FC, securing the top-flight status.
The match began in perfect sync with Mumbai FC’s gameplan, dominating the proceedings from first minute. JayeshRane’s shot hit the left-hand post before a number of last ditch defensive clearances from DSK Shivajians prevented the Mumbai outfit from scoring the opening goal of the match.
The opening goal for the home team came in the 20th minute through a perfectly weighted cross from right-back Ashutosh Mehta for Jayesh Rane inside the 18-yard box, who was afforded the time and space to control and place his shot past Subrata Paul’s left. As the game restarted, DSK dispossessed the possession inside their opposition half and a smart back-heel from Steven Dias to locate Hitesh Sharma; the latter found good of space to register the first-time cross, but instead dropped a loose cross around the visitor’s penalty area, where an onrushing Eric Brown half-volleyed into the goal to give Mumbai FC a two-goal cushion inside 25 minutes.
The hosts continued to find spaces and fancy half-chances at will, creating more pressure on DSK Shivajians. With the away team rarely visiting their attacking third, Mumbai FC remained unstressed as they enjoyed an eventful closing to the first-45 minute with a three-goal advantage to take into the break.
A perfectly pitched through ball into the path of Sushil Singh by Eric Brown had the former clear on goal, who produced a fine finish to lob the ball over the DSK Shivajians goalkeeper.
Towards the closing moments of the game, Mumbai FC became more cautious in their approach to protecting their 3-goal advantage as they frustrated the away team with holding the ball more. A late Eric Brown strike in the added minutes completed a dominant four-goal fairytale from the hosts securing their 3 points in their final Hero I-league encounter of the season.