ISL: Bruno, Kamara find the net as NorthEast United beat Mumbai City FC

Bruno Herrero scored a penalty and Diomansy Kamara tapped in late to give NorthEast United a well deserved 2-0 win over a struggling Mumbai City FC and propel them into the top four of the Indian Super League. Backed by a typically vociferous crowd, The Highlanders saw off early pressure from the visitors, who were pressing from the front and created an opening with just 50 seconds gone on the clock. But a clumsy looking challenge from Rowilson Rodrigues on Kamara, which replays showed  was clearly a dive, allowed Bruno to step up and send an unstoppable spot-kick to the right of Subrata Paul to break the deadlock in the 40th minute. [caption id=“attachment_2515512” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Diomansy Kamara of NorthEast United FC celebrates a goal against Mumbai City FC. ISL[/caption] Mumbai, who came into the game on the back of a damning 7-0 loss, were clearly flustered – and apart from a few good moves between Nicolas Anelka, Sunil Chhetri and Cristian Bustos, there was simply no cohesion among the team. Even though they kept long spells of possession, the final ball was lacking and the penetration down the flanks was non-existent. Anelka played as striker with Chhetri to his left and Saran Singh to his right – Moroccan Selim Benachour was chosen to play at No 10 and is tantalising long ball found Saran in the first minute, which the Indian slapped over the crossbar with a tame volley. Anelka, in his few forays into the channels, crossed for Chhetri in the 34th minute, but the ISL’s top-scorer sent his header over. He had another chance in the second half when Anelka sent a clever layoff towards him in the left channel, but Chhetri’s attempt went inches past the far post. These two chances apart, the Indian skipper cut a desolate figure, shunted out wide despite his best performances coming through the middle. It was the same old story for Mumbai, who dominated the early exchanges before two individual errors from right-back Rowilson Rodrigues gifted NorthEast the crucial penalty. He sent an aimless diagonal ball which was collected by the home team to put Kamara through on the left, where Rowilson found himself beaten before making a desperate attempt to stop the Senegalese. The former Fulham striker was at it again when a freekick from Simao Sabrosa created confusion in the box for Subrata – the keeper came out to punch when two of his defenders were there to clear the ball, and got just half his fist to it. The ball looped down for Kamara who helped it over the line, triggering wild celebrations. Minutes before Kamara’s goal, Anelka had the best chance of the game when substitute Sony Norde teed up the Frenchman with a fine cutback, but the strike was straight at goalkeeper TP Rehenesh. Rehenesh had produced another one-handed save from an Anelka snapshot in the first half, and clearly won the individual battle with a striker who has played for clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Real Madrid. For NorthEast’s manager Cesar Farias, it was the perfect revenge after his side were beaten 5-1 in Mumbai – and he has now led his team into the semifinal spots with just three league games left to play. For Anelka, it’s back to the drawing board again – he tweaked his tactics despite promising not to change anything, and while there were some promising signs, his side have come away with nothing, again.