Mumbai City FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant played out another ISL classic at the Mumbai Football Arena, although this game will go down in history for the number of red cards involved (7). Aside from the disciplinary issues, Mumbai won the game by a 2-1 scoreline, with Greg Stewart and Bipin Singh completing a comeback against Bagan, who had Jason Cummings open the scoring as the game ended with both sides down to nine men each, while there were an additional three red cards after the full-time whistle.
It was third-placed Bagan's first loss of the season, with Mumbai drawing level with their rivals on 19 points, albeit having played a game more.
The first flashpoint of the game came in the 13th minute - with Akash Mishra sent off for a high boot as his knee clattered into the back of Manvir Singh. Bagan turned the screw and made their superiority pay off in the 25th minute - Cummings turning in Liston Colaco's excellent low cross into the net from a yard out.
However, Mumbai came out refreshed after the drinks break and despite being down to 10 men, fashioned some great chances. A superb move involving an ingenious flick from Jorge Pereyra Diaz, a cleverly floated cross to the back post by Bipin, was finished off by Stewart, who rose high above Subhasish Bose and headed the equalizer in a minute before the break - the first headed goal conceded by Juan Ferrando's side this season.
Mumbai continued to cause their opponents some consternation in the second half, which was compounded by Asish Rai and Colaco earning two red cards in the space of three minutes (54' and 57'). Rai earned an early bath for a rash sliding tackle, while Colaco's obvious dissent earned him a straight red, thus flipping the game on its head.
The home side's comeback was complete in the 73rd minute, as Bipin's strike from a short corner on the edge of the box was deflected into the net by the outstretched boot of Anirudh Thapa, looping past a despairing Vishal Kaith and giving Mumbai the lead.
Nine-man Bagan threw the kitchen sink as Dimi Petratos, Kiyan Nassiri and Armando Sadiku came on. They were offered hope in the 88th minute after Greg Stewart earned a second yellow card for diving, thus reducing Mumbai to nine men as well. Replays showed that it was a harsh decision, as Thapa had made contact with Stewart and probably ought to have conceded a penalty.
Bagan nearly made Mumbai pay, as Nassiri forced as superb save from Phurba Lachenpa in the 90th minute. The eight minutes of injury time saw additional cards being handed out, and it did not end after the final whistle. A fracas saw Rahul Bheke and Hector Yuste earning red cards, with Vikram Partap Singh also earning a second yellow.
Mumbai will thus be without four players in their next game against Kerala Blasters, while Bagan face table-toppers FC Goa without three suspended players as well as a sizeable injury list.
You can relive the action from the game right here:
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