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Friday, March 29 2024
Cricket
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Mumbai and Pune play out a 0-0 draw in Maharashtra derby

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Mumbai City FC were held to a scoreless draw by FC Pune City in the 2015 Hero Indian Super League on Friday evening. This was the second time this season that the league witnessed a goalless draw. Interestingly, Mumbai were also the participants in the previous one, against hosts Kerala Blasters FC on October 10. At the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, both Mumbai and Pune created quite a few chances but were unable to score a goal in front of a 23,137-strong crowd.
The game got off to a rather subdued start as both sides failed to establish any control of the game for the majority of the first half. In fact, the first opportunity of the game came courtesy of a lapse in concentration from the Pune defence in the 27th minute.

Stallions’ keeper Arindam Bhattacharya made life difficult for himself while trying to clear a routine back-pass. Bhattacharya was closed down hastily by Singam Subash Singh who almost scored from the rebound after the keeper had kicked the ball into him. In the end, Subash just couldn’t score from what was a pretty tight angle.

The Stallions first shot on goal came just six minutes before the half-time interval. Adrian Mutu found himself at the end of a FC Pune City cross from the left. Pune’s marquee player shot first time with his left foot but the shot was drilled at Mumbai City FC’s keeper.

Mumbai tried to capitalise on a piece of misunderstanding in the three minutes of additional time at the end of the first period. Bhattacharya and Didier Zokora both went for the same ball leaving the keeper in no man’s land but Zokora somehow managed to recover and put the ball behind for a corner as the first half came to a close.

Mutu had the first shot of the second half when he volleyed a headed clearance from Mumbai’s defence just wide of the goal post. Frederic Piquionne headed Mumbai’s first opportunity of the half just wide of Pune’s goal near the hour mark.

Mumbai’s next effort on goal came off the boot of Nicolas Anelka who drilled a powerful drive straight at Bhattacharya in the 71st minute. Mutu was at it again when he forced keeper Subrata Paul to tip his right-footed shot over the bar in the 75th minute.

Substitute Sampathkumar Kuttymani missed the home side’s best chance of the match 11 minutes from full-time when he fired in an effort directly at Bhattacharya from the six-yard line after controlling the ball brilliantly on his chest.

The last chance of the match went to the visitors through substitute Kalu Uche but nothing came of it The result puts the Stallions in second place after 10 games, while Mumbai City FC occupy the sixth position after their opening nine games.

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