Defending champions Mumbai City FC were unable to break their scoreless run as they were held to a 1-1 draw by NorthEast United FC in a Hero Indian Super League (ISL) match on Tuesday. Ahmed Jahouh helped the reigning champions take the lead from the spot in the 30th minute, but a relentless NorthEast United continued to put the pressure on and eventually got their reward through substitute Mohamed Irshad who struck in the 79th minute to ensure both sides took the spoils shared.
The result means Mumbai have remained scoreless in their last six games and moved back into the top four, but only with 18 points from 12 games, level with Chennaiyin FC to face Bengaluru FC on Wednesday.
NorthEast United remained in 10th place in the standings, with 10 points from 14 games. Things got worse for Mumbai when Amey Ranawade was shown a red card in stoppage time after being shown his second yellow card.
NorthEast United got off to a positive start, but Mumbai soon got to grips with the draw, with Jahouh bringing in a lovely ball for Vikram Pratap Singh whose flick-on was off target.
The momentum was soon mirrored in a goal, albeit from a good kick, after Vikram was stumbled into the penalty area by Mashoor Shereef.
NorthEast vehemently protested the decision of the referee who pointed to the dot and Jahouh drove the ball high into the left corner of the goal, leaving Roy Chowdhury no chance to get a hand on it.
Goaded by a goal, the Highlanders upped the ante but it was Mumbai who looked the most likely from either side to double their lead. In the second period, NorthEast United had an early chance to equalize, but Gurjinder Kumar headed wide.
The best chance for NorthEast United fell to Suhair Vadakkepeedika whose chip caught Mohamad Nawaz off his line but the ball hit the post.
Hernan Santana then tried his luck from a distance with a lovely free kick, but the keeper did well to keep his attempt at bay. NorthEast United kept knocking on the door and eventually got their reward from an unlikely source.
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Minutes after taking in Sehnaj Singh, defender Irshad found the back of the net with a shot like a striker after the ball fell to him from a NorthEast United corner and he put in a neat finish in the far corner.
Cassio Gabriel had a golden opportunity to put Mumbai back in the lead after Amey Ranawade put in a sharp cross for him into the penalty area, but the Brazilian forced Roy Chowdhury to make a sharp save.
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