Five things we learned from FC Goa win over Mumbai City in ISL playoff first leg

Goalkeeper Naveen Kumar put in an amazing display for the visitors.

Hosts Mumbai were given the ultimate hammering in front of their own supporters, as FC Goa slotted five past Jorge Costa's side. The Islanders had taken the lead through Rafael Bastos in the 20th minute and had several opportunities to extend it, but the hosts failed to take control. Two defensive lapses gave the Gaurs two goals before the end of the first half and then the traveling side went rampant.

.@FCGoaOfficial put up a blistering five ⭐ performance against @MumbaiCityFC on the Islanders home soil and almost confirmed their berth in the #HeroISL 2018-19 final. More videos: https://t.co/mrtZlxvu6i#LetsFootball #MUMGOA #FanBannaPadega #ISLRecap pic.twitter.com/XeoRTCKFH5

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) March 9, 2019

Watch: Mumbai City 1-5 FC Goa, Goals and Highlights

In the second period, Mumbai City failed to come up with an answer to the relentless pressure from the Gaurs and the away side ended up winning 1-5. Goa go into the second match leaving Mumbai a mountain to climb, if they want to make it to the final. Here are some of the key aspects of the game:

5. Lack of a second foreign centre-back crippling Mumbai City

Goian is the only foreign centre-back who starts for Mumbai

The foreigner distribution in all the playoffs teams is eerily similar. Two center-backs, a defensive midfielder, an attacking midfielder and the lethal striker in the starting lineup are foreigners for Bengaluru FC, Goa and  NorthEast United. Costa’s Mumbai differ in this respect, having only one center-back who is a foreigner. One more foreign player has been added to aid the attck. Playing with three Indian defenders causes a lack of physical presence in the back four and Goa exploited it to the fullest.

The Gaurs took advantage of this by putting in cross after cross, with three leading to goals. Mourtada Fall turned out to be the biggest beneficiary as the tall, physical Senegalese center-back slotted in one each in either half, after Mumbai failed to mark him during Goa’s corners. Goa, themselves had started the season with just one foreigner in defence before they realized the need for physical dominance and brought in Carlos Pena to assist Fall. The Highlanders also brought in Janeiler Rivas after Mislav Komorski got injured. The physical hole will likely cause the Islanders more problems in the second leg.

4. A change in tactical approach is paramount for Mumbai City to turn the tie around

Costa’s tactical inclination is to defend in numbers and hit the opposition with quick and precise counter-attacks. This approach seemed to be working fine in the early stages of the game, with the Islanders taking the lead after peppering the Goan goal with forays. However, two defensive lapses and they were left chasing the match. Once the Mumbaikars started moving up the field in search of goalscoring opportunities, they left too many gaps at the back which the Gaurs utilized easily.

Come the second leg, Costa's side will be chasing the game. If they continue with the same approach. The Islanders will likely end up conceding many more against a fearsome Goan attack.

3. In-form wingers give Goa the opportunity to find gaps in Mumbai defence

It was a stellar outing for two Indian players as Brandon Fernandes and Jackichand Singh stole the show for Goa. The two wingers, who constantly switch sides in Lobera’s system, played an almost flawless game to help Goa overcome the Islanders in Mumbai. The two players were involved in all five goals for the Gaurs.

Jackichand, who has always been a constant threat with his pace and quickness, started the proceedings for the Gaurs, when he tapped in the equalizer after Amrinder spilled a Ferran Corominas shot into his path. He repaid the striker with a peach of a cross for the Spaniard to finish for Goa’s third. Brandon was the instrumental figure when it came to set-piece,s assisting Fall for both his goals. He then got on the end of a fine pass to heap more misery on Mumbai, slotting in Goa’s fifth.

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If Mumbai are to have any hopes of gaining an advantage in the away leg, they will need to find a way to read the mazy runs and adept trickery that these two utilize. If left unchecked, they could wreak havoc, in a similar manner as the first leg.

2. Mid-season addition Naveen Kumar the ideal change for Goa

Kumar has transformed himself into the ball-playing goalkeeper that Sergio Lobera desperately wanted in his side

Compared to Zaid Krouch, the former Kerala Blasters shot-stopper came without much fanfare. He was part of Goa's ranks during last season’s playoffs run, but moved to Kerala at the start of the 2018-19 season. He was, however, brought back in during the Asian Cup break as a part of a loan exchange with Lalthuammawia Ralte moving in the other direction. Indeed, what an addition has it been.

Naveen kept a clean sheet in four of the five matches he played in the league and has only let in four goals in six matches for Lobera’s side. He has also transformed himself into the ball-playing goalkeeper that the Spaniard desperately wanted in his team.

In the playoffs, Naveen came into his element. The 29-year-old was the reason why Goa kept Mumbai at bay for the majority of the match, pulling off stunning reflex saves and defensive stops. The former Salgaocar man was also involved with distribution, finishing with a stunning 88% passing accuracy.

1. Mumbai City left to rue the lack of clinicality in the final third during the first half

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To kill the game off requires great character. Goa displayed that character efficiently in the second half when they slotted in three more to add to their first half lead, effectively making sure of the result of the tie. The second half display metaphorically puts Goa with one leg in the final and even closer to the championship. One team, that could learn a thing or two from this would be Mumbai City themselves.

In the first half, the hosts had a flurry of chances which they should have easily converted. Arnold Issoko gave Naveen Kumar a run for his money a couple of times and Bastos too went close from the edge of the box, but Mumbai never managed to take advantage of their chances. Subhasish Bose also had a glorious opportunity to equalize towards the end of the half. If Mumbai had converted one of these chances, the result could have gone differently.