Mumbai City FC end on top of table

Mumbai: Mumbai City FC finished the league at the top of the table after playing goalless draw against Delhi Dynamos FC in their Indian Super League-3 game here on Saturday.

Alexandre Guimaraes’ side bagged 23 points, while Dynamos at the moment are second with 21 points but could be displaced to third depending on the outcome of the last league game between Kerala Blasters and NorthEast United FC on Sunday.

Hosts made just one change by giving debut to Udanta Singh this season in place of Sunil Chhetri. For Delhi, tournament top scorer with nine goals, Marcelo Leite Pereira was not even in playing squad as he had got four bookings and Richard Gadze was also not there. Marquee player Florent Malouda was introduced after 70 minutes of play as coach Gianluca Zambrotta rested key players, making eight changes.

Dynamos found hard to get going allowing hosts to dictate terms in the first half. Mumbai City were dangerous from the right with Udanta making swift runs while Matias Defederico and Diego Forlan were ever imposing upfront. Yet Dynamos defence held fort somehow and didn’t give Forlan and Co any easy openings. The host’s reached close as Gerson Vieira earned free-kick was well taken by Forlan. The teasing volley lurked dangerously in the Delhi box before reaching back to Forlan who found Udanta but the Bengaluru FC player didn’t get enough space between two defenders to find the target.

In the 21st minute Forlan scorching attempt on goal was kept away from narrow angle by goalkeeper Antonio Santana and then Cafu (Otacilio Brito Alves) leftfooter from the edge of the box was just over.

Only time Dynamos looked like scoring in the first half when Bruno Pelissari free-kick in the 39th minute found the top netting give goalkeeper Amrinder Singh a rare scare. Sehnaj Singh attempt from right was well kept out by Santana as visitors managed to keep Mumbai City goalless despite immense pressure.