ISL 2024-25: Bipin, Chhangte score as Mumbai City dampens NorthEast United’s Shillong debut

ISL 2024-25: Bipin, Chhangte score as Mumbai City dampens NorthEast United’s Shillong debut

It was a dismal debut for NorthEast United in its new home after it fell to a 0-2 loss against Mumbai City FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) clash at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Friday.

Bipin Singh scored in the closing stages of the first half while Lallianzuala Chhangte hammered the nail in the coffin in stoppage time to boost the Islanders’ chances of securing a playoff spot.

Despite the palpable iciness in the air, it was the home side which had a fiery start, with Alaaeddine Ajaraie at the forefront.

The league’s top-scorer almost gave the Highlanders the lead in the eighth minute after meeting a cross from the right from Macarton Louis Nickson. However, the Moroccan’s leaping header ended up going narrowly above the crossbar.

It was one-way traffic for a majority of the first half with NEUFC getting a flurry of chances to take the lead.

Ajaraie’s left-footed shot from outside the box whizzed just wide of the left post in the 26th minute while Nestor Albiach’s attempt from close range two minutes later was frantically pushed away by Phurba Lachenpa.

However, all of its attacking prowess was undone by an inch-perfect cross from Brandon Fernandes in the 41st minute. Bipin, who had failed to score in the league since the ISL final last season, ran into the box and thumped the ball into the back of the net to silence the crowd and take the lead.

MCFC was a much-improved side in the second half with Hmingthanmawia Ralte (Valpuia) and Chhangte testing the opposition keeper with efforts from outside the box.

At the other end, Lachenpa kept his side’s lead intact in the 54th minute after producing a good save to stop Buanthanglun Samte’s left-footed shot from inside the box.

With just a quarter of an hour left in regulation time, MCFC had the chance to put the game to bed in the 74th minute when substitute Jorge Ortiz Mendoza went through on goal after a defensive error. However, Mendoza‘s decision to unselfishly square the pass to Bipin proved to be fruitless after the latter failed to reach the pass, whilst also being in an offside position.

Despite the vociferous chants of “We need goals” booming from the stands, the NEUFC attackers failed to find a way past a resilient MCFC defence.

Chhangte put the game to bed in the second minute of added time after bringing down the ball in the middle of the pitch and using his pace to race into the box and place it into the bottom right corner.

The result lifted MCFC to fourth in the table with 31 points from 19 games while NEUFC dropped to fifth with 29 points from 20 matches.