Tag: Mumbai City FC

by Abhishek Shukla

NorthEast United end the year with a flawless 3-0 victory at the home of Mumbai City FC

Mumbai, December 30: NorthEast United FC defeated Mumbai City FC by 3-0 at the Mumbai Football Arena in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 tonight. This was the first time that the Highlanders triumphed over the Islanders in their last seven ISL meetings. Despite dominating 65.2% of the possession, Mumbai City FC could take only three shots on target, as compared to the seven of the visitors. The home team took 31 crosses, but were unable to muster up concrete chances in the final third.

The match started with NorthEast United FC netting in the 46th second of the match through Alaaeddine Ajaraie, in what turned out to be the fastest goal by the Highlanders in an ISL game, beating the previous best by VP Suhair (01:42 vs Mohun Bagan Super Giant on December 21, 2021).

The visitors won the ball back from Nikolaos Karelis in the opening move of the game, before Parthib Gogoi brought down a long ball with a delicate touch on the right flank and sent in a probing cross that Ajaraie nestled into the centre of the goal from close range.

This strike broke Mumbai City FC’s four-game-long streak of keeping clean sheets, and it also resulted in the second-fastest goal conceded by the Islanders in the ISL history after Cleiton Silva’s goal in 25 seconds on February 15, 2021 against them.

It was also the quickest that any player has found the back of the net in the current campaign of the ISL. Troubles mounted for Mumbai City FC when Ajaraie stepped up to take a spot-kick in the 25th minute. NorthEast United FC earned that penalty because of a handball by Hardik Bhatt. The attacker had a great opportunity to bag his brace, but his shot on the right side was saved immediately by goalkeeper TP Rehenesh’s diving effort.

This was the fourth time that Rehenesh saved a penalty-kick in the competition and the first instance of him doing so for Mumbai City FC. Rehenesh again saved the home side the blushes with his dual save in the 56th minute. Trying to work his way out the last line of the defence, Ajaraie pulled off a skilful shot near the centre that Rehenesh quickly thwarted. However, the Highlanders’ star pounced upon the rebound and launched it towards the left end of the goal, which was again kept out by the Mumbai City FC custodian.

Ajaraie didn’t cut down on exerting pressure on the opposition’s backline, instead interlinking seamlessly with Macarton Nickson impeccably in the 83rd minute to secure his second goal of the game. It was an exciting passage of play for the visitors where they finally showed enough efficiency to convert the chances that they created. They unravelled the Petr Kratky-coached side’s defence with a variety of options, both through patient build up and the occasional burst of direct attacks. This particular instance saw Macarton pick Ajaraie at the perfect spot in the centre of the box before the latter drilled it into the bottom left corner.

As play resumed after the goal, the Highlanders maintained on the momentum they had created, rounding off another offensive endeavour in the 86th minute through Macarton amid a slightly crowded box with a slick finish that saw the ball sail its way into the bottom right corner to consolidate the Highlanders’ lead heading into the final passage of the game.

Key Performer of the Match

Alaaeddine Ajaraie (NorthEast United FC)

Ajaraie completed 16 out of his 26 attempted passes, making one tackle, two clearances, five crosses, and striking the back of the net twice.

What’s next for both teams?

Mumbai City FC feature next against East Bengal FC on January 6 and NorthEast United FC will be playing Mohammedan SC on January 3.

Brief Scores

Mumbai City FC 0 – 3 NorthEast United FC (Alaaeddine Ajaraie 1’ 83’, Macarton Nickson 86’)

Stats Pack

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Points Table

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by Abhishek Shukla

Mumbai City FC complete signing of Syrian International Thaer Krouma

Mumbai, 2 February 2023: Mumbai City FC are delighted to announce the arrival of defender Thaer Krouma. The Syrian international joins the Islanders on a short-term contract until the end of the 2023-24 season.

The experienced centre-back has played most of his football in his home country of Syria. In addition to this, he has also plied his trade in the top flight divisions of Iraq, Lebanon and Bahrain. Most recently, Krouma turned out for defending Syrian Premier League champions Al Fotuwa SC and represented the Syrian club in continental competitions as well, having participated in the 2023-24 AFC Cup.

The 33-year-old defender has over 30 caps for the Syrian Men’s National Football Team and recently represented his country at the ongoing 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar, playing every minute of Syria’s memorable campaign. Krouma was a part of the Syrian defence that only conceded two goals in the entire tournament before their penalty shootout defeat to Iran in the Round of 16.

Krouma will join the Islanders’ camp in Mumbai in the coming days and will wear the number 35 shirt for Mumbai City.

Thaer Krouma said:

“Joining Mumbai City and coming to India is a very exciting prospect for me and I want to thank the club for making me a part of this project. The ISL has a great profile in Asia and so does Indian football. I recently had the pleasure of playing against India at the AFC Asian Cup and the growing quality of Indian players and clubs is for everyone to see. I’m delighted and excited to start my journey with one of India’s biggest clubs, and I can’t wait to get going with my teammates and our fans.”

Petr Kratky, Head Coach – Mumbai City, said:

“In Thaer, we are bringing in an experienced and a solid defender. He had a very good AFC Asian Cup campaign with Syria and his performances speak for themselves. He not only brings plenty of international pedigree but also great experience of club football across Asia. Thaer has demonstrated his abilities at the highest level and we are confident that he will form an important part of our group in the second half of the season. We are excited to welcome him to our squad and I look forward to working with him.”

by Abhishek Shukla

Mumbai City FC looks to overcome significant departures against rejuvenated Jamshedpur FC

Mumbai City FC and Jamshedpur FC will square off in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 at the Mumbai Football Arena (MFA) on February 4, Sunday at 7:30 p.m. (IST). This game will mark the return of Khalid Jamil with his first game for JFC in Mumbai, the place that propelled him to coaching success back when he coached Mumbai FC in the I-League.

Jamil has had a terrific impact on the Red Miners since he replaced Scott Cooper at the helm. He spearheaded them to the semi-final of the Kalinga Super Cup, which is a remarkable feat given that they have won only twice and lost seven times in their 13 league encounters so far.

They sealed a 1-1 draw against NorthEast United FC on Wednesday, but will want to go one step ahead and inflict a loss upon the Islanders in their own backyard. Mumbai City FC have endured an exciting campaign in their bid to defend their League Winners Shield title. They lost all their games in the AFC Champions League, suffered a series of unconvincing results given the quality of their squad, and saw the departure of their head coach Des Buckingham to Oxford United FC.

They went into the break with a terrific victory against Chennaiyin FC at home, and will wish to pick up from there against Jamshedpur FC, whose fortunes have been on the rise in the last month or so.

However, the Islanders have been dealt with major blows in the winter transfer window, with key players like Greg Stewart, Abdenasser El Khayati, and Rostyn Griffiths leaving the club. Head coach Petr Kratky has been served a challenge straightaway upon his arrival, and how he works his way around them will go a long way in deciding his credentials at the City Football Group (CFG) owned outfit.

What’s at stake?

Mumbai City FC

Regardless of the numerous key departures this season, the Islanders have to fight till the end to not slip away from their pursuit of challenging for the top honours on the domestic front.

At this stage, it appears that the trio of Kerala Blasters FC, Odisha FC, and FC Goa have somehow beaten the Islanders in terms of points as well as performances. However, Mumbai City FC are defending the shield for a reason and they are well aware of the measures that they must take to overtake the aforementioned set of teams to attain their objectives.

They are often a difficult team to beat at home, and are arguably better placed in terms of the quality present in their ranks vis-à-vis Jamshedpur FC. Interestingly, they have never won consecutive matches against the Red Miners in the ISL. However, they have not been defeated at the MFA even once in this ISL campaign, and Kratky will be hoping to extend that record when his men take the field on Sunday evening.

Jamshedpur FC

Jamshedpur FC has been a recharged unit since Jamil’s appointment, with the tactician arguably setting them up in a way that optimises their strength. Whilst Cooper’s philosophy was broadly focused on playing a possession-based brand of football, Jamil stresses on a strengthened backline supported by industrious midfielders and quick wingers. He has a striker in Daniel Chima Chukwu, who can be a threat in the air and equally skilful with his feet inside the box.

Moreover, Jamil is perhaps better placed to optimise the qualities of his domestic contingent, which is reflected in the growing confidence of Imran Khan with which he found the back of the net against the Highlanders. Overall, he has given an impression that he understands what this squad can offer him and is working towards ensuring that they get the expected results regardless of the opposition they are facing.

Key Players

Yoell van Nieff (Mumbai City FC)

The Dutch defensive midfielder will have added responsibility to shoulder the responsibilities of the defensive unit in the absence of Griffiths. Van Nieff has made eight appearances in ISL 2023-24, recording an 82% passing accuracy, making seven interceptions, and earning 14 fouls. He has created a goal-scoring opportunity in every game, which suggests that he is constantly looking for avenues to breach the opposition’s defensive line.

It is possible that he could be pegged in a deeper role to make up for Griffiths, and whether that negatively impacts his forays moving forward remains to be seen. However, with the going away of multiple star international players, the significance of van Nieff increases massively in the Mumbai City FC unit. A terrific second half of ISL 2023-24 will help him individually and result in overall better performances from the team’s end as well.

Imran Khan (Jamshedpur FC)

The Jamshedpur FC midfielder has averaged 76.6 minutes per field across his 10 appearances in the ISL this season. He has created 14 goal-scoring chances, netted and assisted once each, and been quick on his feet whilst winning 13 fouls in total. Imran has made eight interceptions, made an average of 27 passes per game, and been a lively presence whether through the centre or even via the flanks.

He has been booked only once so far, and his strike against the Highlanders means that he will be beaming with confidence coming into this fixture. Jamil has never lost a game against Mumbai City FC in the ISL, and the contributions of Imran will be essential in keeping that record intact come Sunday. Interestingly, he has been very neat in his passing, completing 80% of them in this campaign and by the looks of it; his role and responsibilities are only going to get bigger and better in Jamil’s watch.



Head-to-Head

Played – 12

Mumbai City FC – 4

Jamshedpur FC – 5

Draws – 3

Trivia: Jamshedpur FC have won only once in their seven away fixtures in the ISL 2023-24.

Team Talk

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“There was a lot of opportunities to give to these young boys and I’m very happy and I’m looking forward to work with them more. We missed players due to national team duties, and they need to just keep working hard,” Mumbai City FC head coach Petr Kratky said in the pre-match press conference. 

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“In the second half, everybody tried, but they came hard at us for the equaliser and they got it. But we tried and that’s a good point, but I wanted to get three points, which would’ve been better for us,” Jamshedpur FC head coach Khalid Jamil reflected on their draw against NorthEast United FC in the last game.

ISL Fantasy

Rahul Bheke (4.1cr)

Proactive approach in moving the ball higher up the field

Lalengmawia Ralte (4.9cr)

Guaranteed contributions on both attacking and defensive fronts from the middle

Daniel Chima Chukwu (5.5cr)

Constant goal-scoring threat from the JFC ranks


Where to Watch

Fans across the country can catch the action in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam. Fans can watch the action on linear channels like Sports18 Khel (Hindi), Sports18 1 HD (English), Sports18 3 SD (English, Hindi, Malayalam and Bengali), VH1 SD & HD (English), Surya Movies (Malayalam), News 18 Kerala (Malayalam – select matches) & DD Bangla (Bengali). Fans can also catch the action streaming Live for free on JioCinema, the home of Indian football. In addition to this, as part of FSDL’s partnership with OneFootball, ISL live streams and highlights of all matches of the upcoming 2023-24 season will be delivered across more than 190 countries.

Point Table

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by Abhishek Shukla

ISL: Mumbai City FC Welcomes Petr Kratky as New Head Coach

Mumbai, 9 December 2023: Mumbai City is delighted to announce the arrival of Petr Kratky as the Club’s new Head Coach. Kratky continues his journey within the City Football Group as he arrives from sister club Melbourne City. The 42-year-old joins Mumbai City in his new role until the end of the 2024-25 season.
 
Born in the Czech Republic, Kratky enjoyed a 15-year playing career as a right back and represented some of the biggest Czech clubs including Mlada Boleslav and Slovan Liberec before finishing his career with Heidelberg United in Australia. Kratky then joined A-League side Melbourne City as an Academy Coach, taking charge of the Club’s Developmental Squad in the NPL2, before coaching them in the NPL Seniors.
 
Following Des Buckingham’s move from Melbourne to Mumbai in October 2021, Kratky was promoted to the role of Assistant Coach of Melbourne City’s First Team. As Assistant, the Czech-Australian coach served under Patrick Kisnorbo, Rado Vidosic and most recently, under Aurelio Vidmar.
 
During his seven-year stint at Melbourne City, Kratky coached and nurtured several young players from his Developmental Squad, creating a pathway for them into senior football. As Assistant Coach, Kratky was instrumental in guiding Melbourne City to consecutive A-League Men’s Premiers titles in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
 
Kandarp Chandra, CEO of Mumbai City FC, said:
 
“We are delighted to welcome Petr to the Mumbai City family. In the last few years, we have played the ‘City Way’ and showcased some exciting football under two excellent coaches. However, the salience of the ‘City’ philosophy is that it stands strong on an ideology and does not rely on any one single individual.”
 
“We interviewed several candidates but we believe Petr is the right choice to not only ensure continuity in our footballing philosophy but also to help us build on it and grow as a football club. With his vast experience at Melbourne City, he has a deep understanding of the brand of attractive football that we want to play at Mumbai City, much like the other CFG clubs. All of us at Mumbai City are excited to have Petr with us and we look forward to working with him.”
 
New Mumbai City Head Coach, Petr Kratky said:
 
“I am excited to embark on this new opportunity at Mumbai City FC and to continue working as part of the City Football Group. One thing that I value most within CFG is that we are aligned by the same vision and philosophy which is centred around playing the City Way.”
 
“Our philosophy has the overarching goal to succeed, and I’m very excited to get started in Mumbai as I know the Club has set strong foundations for long term success. I hope to build on everything Mumbai City has achieved in recent years and to uphold our proud legacy of winning whilst playing attractive football.”
 
“I would like to thank everyone in the Melbourne City FC family – they will always have a special place in my heart.”
 
Petr will arrive in India and join the Islanders’ camp today and will take charge in his first game for the Islanders against FC Goa in the Indian Super League on December 12.