ISL: NorthEast United's attack clicks in superb win over nine-man Mumbai City

Koke doesn’t look like a man who will run circles around you. He isn’t very tall or quick, doesn’t have a menacing haircut or built But with each match of the Indian Super League, the Spaniard is showing that appearances count for little in football – only skill does. NorthEast United FC’s 2-0 win over Mumbai City FC owes as much to Koke as it does to Kondwani Mtonga and Felipe Castro, the goalscorers. Each time the ball was at Koke’s feet, it was almost as if the game was given a new life. [caption id=“attachment_1771511” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Kondwani Mtonga of NorthEast United FC celebrates after scoring against Mumbai City FC. HISL[/caption] For most of the first half, Mumbai were in charge. They had better possession (59 to 41), created better chances but lacked the finishing touch that perhaps only the missing Nicolas Anelka can provide them with. The Frenchman was once again not even on the bench as Mumbai failed to make the most of their chances. Andre Moritz, with a bandaged head, was the man pulling the strings for Mumbai in the first half – his passes were precise and had just the right weight on them. But it was Koke’s through ball that set up the first real chance of the game. Felipe, the Brazilian, had come on for Isaac Chansa really early in the game and the chance fell to him in the 18th minute. The midfielder cut inside to create some space and had a clear shot at goal but he failed to hit the target. The second-half was more of the same but Mumbai were without Moritz. Until Mtonga decided to make an adventurous run from the deep. The Zambian had been mostly playing a defensive role until this moment. Koke was strolling along the right touchline when Mtonga’s initial ball found him. And for a few seconds, he seemed lost. A defender had closed in on him quickly and he swivelled on one foot, looking for another option. And he found that option in Mtonga, who had continued his run. A precise gentle pass between two defenders found the Zambian and set Koke free too. Suddenly, the Spaniard cut in and then chipped a wonderful ball over the defence and into the path of Mtonga. A defender’s challenge was brushed off by the tall, lanky Zambian and then he elegantly lobbed it over the charging Subrata Paul. NorthEast United were given the lead in the 57th minute and it was just reward for the composure they had shown in the second half. Koke was taken off in the 69th minute but his job was done. It didn’t help Mumbai when Ljungberg was taken off due to a hamstring injury – completed unrelated to his earlier injury – because they had already made their three substitutions. And when Pavel Cmovs got his second yellow in the 75th minute – the home side were reduced to nine men. A tough task was only made tougher. By this point, NorthEast were defending deep and breaking them down was not going to be easy. But Mumbai, to their credit, went for it. They went for goal, they went for glory but instead saw NorthEast bag another goal in the 90th minute. Felipe made amends for his early miss and slotted in the second goal. Some classy play from James Keene set it up and the Brazilian’s smashing finish gave the keeper no chance. In the end, it was a well deserved win. The statistics will tell you that Mumbai had more possession but NorthEast made the most of their chances. And in football, that’s all that really counts.