Mumbai City began their title defence with a convincing win over FC Goa in their opening fixture of this season.
The teams had last met competitively in last year’s semi-finals when Mumbai had just edged out Goa in a penalty shoot-out. This, however, was a much more emphatic performance, and served as a warning shot to their major rivals that they are ready to defend their crown.
By contrast, it was a disappointing opening for Goa. They had to watch as former striker Igor Angulo struck twice in three minutes against the club he played for last season in the first half, the first from the penalty spot.
The man brought in to replace him, Airam Cabrera, did not have such an auspicious debut. He was starved of service for much of the match.
For Mumbai’s new coach, Des Buckingham, appointed only last month, it was a first victory on Indian soil. He had joined from their Australia sister club Melbourne City, where he had been assistant coach.
Last season, Mumbai earned themselves the reputation of being the “moneybags” team of Indian football, boosting their squad with expensive new signings and that has clearly continued into this campaign.
Apart from Angulo, Apuia, Mohammad Nawaz, Rahul Bheke and Cassio Gabriel were all making their debuts.
Mumbai, in fact, might have taken the lead earlier on than they did, had the referee taken a different view of the incident in which Leander D’Cunha appeared to trip Mumbai wing back Vignesh Dakshinamurthy in the box. Instead, it meant a premature end for Dakshinamurthy, who was unable to continue.
On the 33rd minute, the officiating was not so generous to the Goa defenders. Ivan Gonzalez’s mistimed challenge in the box was clearly seen and the referee pointed to the spot. Angulo gave former teammate Dheeraj Singh no chance from 12 yards.
Three minutes later he had doubled his tally, picking up a through ball from Raynier Fernandes, beating two defenders, and shooting past Dheeraj’s right hand.
Raynier Fernandes might have had a third before half-time, but the crossbar came to Goa’s rescue.
When the third did come with 14 minutes left, it capped a fine night for another debutant. Brazilian Ygor Catatau had only been on the pitch for a few minutes as a substitute when he nodded home a free kick.
It marked a satisfactory night all round for Buckingham and his new charges.