Federation Cup: Passi’s last-gasp goal helps Sporting down Mumbai

Sporting Clube de Goa striker Sumeet Passi (left) vies for the ball with Mumbai FC’s Eric Brown in their Federation Cup match in Mumbai on Sunday. The visitors won 1-0.

Sumeet Passi’s (90th minute) last gasp goal gave Sporting Clube de Goa a 1-0 victory over Mumbai FC in the Federation Cup here on Sunday. Mumbai FC failed to build on from two inspiring I-League wins at Cooperage last month and conceded a last minute goal. Sporting will now carry one away goal advantage to the return leg which is slated to be played in Goa on Wednesday.

Both teams lacked precision in the first half and failed to create clear chances. Sporting made a promising move when Nicholas Fernandes sneak-ed in from the left and went down inside the penalty box after being blocked by Ashutosh Mehta. But it seemed to be a clean tackle as the referee wasn’t interested.

A free-kick by Sporting’s Rowlinson Borges was palmed over by Mumbai goalkeeper Kunal Sawant.

Mumbai striker Eric Brown had a half chance after Taisuke Matsugae did the spadework, but the finish was wide.

Steven Dias invited an acrobatic save from the visitors’ goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya with a curling free-kick.

Mumbai’s Jayesh Rane found the net in the 54th minute to generate some excitement, but was ruled offside. With the game seemingly heading for a drab draw, Sporting’s substitute Ndidi Chukwama generated a creative move to find Victorino who crossed to an unmarked Passi who made no mistake to head it into the back of the net.

Second defeat for EB East Bengal slumped to their second successive defeat to hosts Shillong Lajong FC.

Lajong won 2-1 courtesy goals from Chinglensana Singh (33rd) and Fabio Pena (62nd). For East Bengal, Do Donghyun (44th) scored just before the interval.