Mumbai City FC qualified for the group stage of the 2023-24 AFC Champions League on Wednesday with a 3-1 victory over Jamshedpur FC in the Club Playoffs in Manjeri, Kerala. In a clash between two previous ISL Shield winners, Des Buckingham’s men were dominant, scoring through Ahmed Jahouh (52nd), Alberto Noguera (70th) and Vikram Partap Singh (90 + 4th). Jamshedpur FC made a mess of it late with a goal from Eli Sabia (80th) but that was not enough. The Islanders now become the first Indian club to appear more than once in the group stage of the AFC Champions League.
Both teams coming into action for the first time since the 2022-23 ISL season needed some time to get into the game.
Mumbai City FC dominated possession as Jamshedpur FC absorbed the pressure without much effort in the first substitutions.
The Red Miners then came close to taking the lead in the 32nd minute when Ricky Lallawmawma found himself in space at the far post from a corner, but could only fire his shot into the side netting.
Mumbai City FC were then denied the opener by a combination of TP Rehenesh and the upright as the goalkeeper fired a sharp shot from Lallianzuala Chhangte into the woodwork two minutes before the break.
The deadlock could not be broken as the two teams entered break-level pegging.
Mumbai City FC started the second half with the front foot but Jamshedpur FC had the first chance after Mehtab Singh sent a low cross towards his own goal, but goalkeeper Phurba Lacehnpa was alert and kept it out in the 50th minute.
The Islanders then won a penalty at the other end a minute later when Chhangte was fouled, allowing Jahouh to step up and Buckingham’s side to shoot ahead from the spot.
The Englishman then introduced Greg Stewart as he went for the kill and Mumbai City FC doubled their lead in the 70th minute when Noguera, who had broken away from the crowd in the penalty area from a corner kick, fired a scorching volley past Rehenesh into the goal.
But just when it looked like Mumbai City FC was home and dry, Eli Sabia revived the game as a contest as he nodded a close range header from a corner in the 80th minute to give Jamshedpur FC hope.
Buckingham made the changes and brought in Morutada Fall and Vikram Partap Singh to complete the match.
As Jamshedpur FC pushed desperately for an equaliser, it enabled Mumbai City FC to kill the game on the counter-attack as Stewart set up Vikram who scored a third goal deep in stoppage time to give his team victory and a place in the AFC . Champions League.
(This story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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