ISL 2015: FC Goa demolish Mumbai City FC 7-0; Dudu and Haokip score hat-tricks

FC Goa marked the Indian Super League’s 100th fixture with an unforgettable performance, beating Mumbai City 7-0 at the Fatorda Stadium, riding on hat-tricks from both their strikers Thongkoisep Haokip and Dudu Omagbeni, and a late strike from Reinaldo. There were some early scares for the home team when Frederic Piquionne robbed the ball from former Brazil and Inter Milan defender Lucio – but he failed to put left-winger Keegan Pereira through. Sunil Chhetri then found space on the right channel but even his shot was blocked as the two sides played out an evenly matched opening 30 minutes. That was hardly the case in the rest of the match – as Goa completely outperformed Mumbai with the sort of football that Zico’s Brazilian team of the 1970s and 80s used to produce. Haokip started the scoring in the 34th minute when he bundled the ball into an empty net after an excellent one-touch move with strike partner Dudu. [caption id=“attachment_2510734” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Thongkoisep Haokip of FC Goa celebrates his goal agianst Mumbai City FC. ISL[/caption] Subrata Paul had rushed out to snatch the ball from the Nigerian’s feet but Mumbai right-back Ashutosh Mehta had also committed to a slide tackle. The ball eventually trickled towards the net and Haokip helped it past the line. It was third time lucky for one of I-League’s top players last year, as he had two rebounds early in the game which he flashed over. But it was Dudu who stole the limelight with a hat-trick, the opener of which was a fine turn and shot into the near post from a Leo Moura pass. With Goa 2-0 up at the break, Mumbai committed men forward and left spaces open at the back – and Haokip and Dudu punished their miserable defending. Just seven minutes after half-time, Jonatan Lucca’s audacious outside of the boot lob found Joffre Mateu and the Spaniard flicked it over Mumbai’s defence with an equally audacious chip to find Haokip – who made no mistake in finding the net. It was 3-0 just like that and the floodgates had opened. Dudu was in the right place at the right time when Lucio glanced a Joffre freekick towards Subrata, calmly slotting the ball for 4-0 before sticking a foot out three minutes later to find Moura’s low cross, which the Brazilian sent in after teasing three Mumbai defenders on the byline. At 5-0 there was no way back for Mumbai and Zico’s side were playing for fun. Mumbai’s only threat in the second half was a long range effort from Selim Benachour which hardly troubled Laxmikant Kattimani in goal. Dudu was hauled off but Haokip made sure the scoreline went from thumping to embarrassing for Mumbai as he benefited from another rebound. Romeo Fernandes had scampered away from his markers before his low shot was saved by Subrat – however, and as was the pattern throughout the night, Haokip was there to score. The Gaurs had lost 2-0 in Mumbai in the reverse fixture, but Goa were not happy with a 6-0 vengeance. Mandar Dessai stormed forward, beat a man with a lovely feint and crossed in. The ball made its way to Reinaldo who cracked it past Subrata to make it 7-0. The loss keeps Goa at the top of the table, with Mumbai stuck in sixth. But bottom-placed Chennaiyin FC have the chance to leapfrog them if they win their game in hand.