ISL: Mumbai City FC Win League Winners’ Shield, Qualify To The Group Stages of the AFC Champions League

Mumbai City FC became the second-ever Indian club to qualify to the group stages of the AFC Champions League by lifting the league-winners’ shield at the GMC Stadium in Goa on Sunday. The Islanders triumphed 2-0 over ATK Mohun Bagan (ATKMB) and levelled their oppositions in terms of points (40) at the end of the league stages.

However, the City Football Group-owned (CFG) outfit claimed the top spot and the subsequent qualification to the continental championship through their better head-to-head record against the Mariners.

Defender Mourtada Fall and striker Bartholomew Ogbeche scored a goal apiece in the first-half to hand Sergio Lobera’s men a terrific early advantage.

The team then adopted a rather pragmatic approach to see off the rest of the game in the absence of key talisman Hugo Boumous. Mumbai’s aspirations to finish at the top of the standings had taken a heavy jolt due to their consecutive defeats against Bengaluru FC and Jamshedpur FC last month.

However, the team scripted a remarkable comeback thereafter through a 6-1 rout over Odisha FC in the midweek and then completing the season double over ATKMB. The CFG takeover has reaped rich dividends for the Islanders who shelled major sums in the last summer transfer window to setup one of the most formidable squads in the league.

Lobera’s shrewd management and coaching acumen was reflected in the enhanced performances of younger domestic talents like Bipin Singh, Vignesh Dakshinamurthy, Amey Ranawade amongst others.

The team will now face FC Goa across two-legged semifinal tie in the playoffs in order to march ahead and win the ISL trophy too.