ISL Season 3: Da Costa stunner denies Chennaiyin

Mumbai City FC’s Thiago Dos Santos puts the shine on team mate Leo da Costa’s goal-scoring boot after the equaliser against Chennaiyin FC in their ISL-3 match in Chennai on Wednesday. (Photo: ISL)

Mumbai City FC barely managed to avoid the ignominy of losing yet again to nemesis Chennaiyin FC as a long-range pile-driver from substitute Leonardo da Costa saved their blushes with a 1-1 draw in Indian Super League action at the Nehru Stadium here on Wednesday.

It must be said that the late equaliser, coming as it did in the 87th minute, was a point won for the visiting team, while the holders will lament that another match that had them bossing their rivals ended in a draw.

This is the hosts‘ third successive draw and the pain of conceding so late will linger for quite some time. It is worth remembering that this result was a spitting image of Chennaiyin’s away match against FC Pune City 10 days ago.

Then, as on Wednesday, Jeje Lalpekhlua put Chennaiyin ahead only to see them concede with eight minutes remaining.

Chennaiyin had a host of chances to put the match beyond Mumbai’s grasp, but they only have their profligacy to blame as inept finishing did them in.

After a dreary first half, that was very much in keeping with the inclement weather where neither of the team’s threatened to score, the match sprang to life in the 51st minute when Jeje scored with a sumptuous header off a corner from Maurizio Peluso.

That goal lifted the gloom enveloping the stadium and had the crowd blaring at full throttle after watching proceedings in the earlier half with their lips zipped.

Then it seemed that Chennaiyin had the measure of their opponents and despite all the pre-match hype surrounding Diego Forlan, the Uruguayan was largely a peripheral figure.

Although, the result was not to their satisfaction, the point earned from another draw enabled Chennaiyin to move to fourth while Mumbai City remain where they are.

Goa, Pune lock horns FC Pune City coach Antonio Habas will be encouraged by a personal record against his FC Goa counterpart Zico as Pune seek to get off the bottom of the table at home on Thursday.