Mumbai City FC buoyed by good show in friendlies
Brazil's Thiago Santos, Spain's Rafa Jorda and Indian International Balwant Singh were the stars of the show, scoring two goals each.
Mumbai City FC returned from their pre-season camp in Spain, winning four matches, drawing two and losing just one against various club outfits.
Brazil’s Thiago Santos, Spain’s Rafa Jorda and Indian International Balwant Singh were the stars of the show, scoring two goals each.
Mumbai City FC began with a comprehensive 3-0 win over UE Gandia on October 12. Leo Costa fired in the first goal with a freekick in the 28th minute while Rafa Jorda scored a brace, both goals coming in the first half itself.
In the next game on October 15, Mumbai City overcame CD Castellon 2-1. Achile Emana’s 58th minute strike put them in the lead before Ruben Fonte equalized for Castellon four minutes later. Thiago Santos scored the winner in the closing moments over the Spanish third division side.
Mumbai City’s victory run was halted by CD Alcoyano as they were held to a goalless draw. The Indian players came to the party in the next game, with Balwant Singh scoring a brace and Sanju Pradhan scoring one in their 3-1 win over UD Alzira.
The fifth game against Levante UD ‘B’ ended in a 2-2 draw. The reserve team of the top flight Spanish League side began on a dominant note with Joel Rodriguez scoring in the first minute itself. MCFC restored parity in the 28th minute through Gerson Viera. Levante jumped ahead just three minutes later but Thiago Santos, the 22-year-old Brazilian scored to draw the game.
The only loss of the trip came in the game against Elche ‘B’, as the spirited Mumbai City side went down 1-2.
The team, however, bounced right back to beat Torre Levante CF 1-0 to end their campaign on a positive note.
An early strike by the Brazilian forward Everton Santos was enough to set up the victory.