ISL 2022-23: Mumbai City smash four past NorthEast United

Sandeep Shetty/ Focus Sports /ISL

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Mumbai City FC went seven points clear at the top of the Indian Super League (ISL) table after a comfortable 4-0 victory over NorthEast United FC at the Mumbai Football Arena on Thursday.

The result was another example of Mumbai City's dominance this season - the Islanders have scored 45 goals in 15 games, putting them just a goal behind FC Goa's league stage record of 46 goals in 2019-20 with five games to go.

Des Buckingham made four changes to his side as Mourtada Fall, Lalengmawia Ralte, Vinit Rai and Jorge Pereyra Diaz returned to the starting XI. Vincenzo Annese made two changes: Romain Philippoteaux and Rochharzela replaced Jon Gaztanaga and Emil Benny.

Annese tweaked his tactics to counter Mumbai City but the gamble did not pay off as the visitors found themselves three goals down inside the opening 15 minutes of the game. A deflected Ahmed Jahouh free-kick handed the hosts the lead five minutes into the game.

Six minutes after the opener, the Islanders doubled their lead after Lallianzuala Chhangte's tricky run was thwarted by the defence only to put the loose ball into the path of Diaz, who scored his ninth goal of the season. Diaz was soon involved in a smooth one-touch-pass move that ended with Greg Stewart's shot deflected into the goal by Alex Saji.

Rai made it 4-0 at the stroke of half-time as he let one rip from some 25 yards out. The ball took a deflection before busting the top left corner of the goal. The Highlanders were reduced to ten men after Wilmar Gil's swinging arm impeded Diaz near the halfway line straight after kick-off.

Mumbai City lowered the tempo in the second 45 and took full control of the game. Diaz had the opportunity to score his second of the evening in the 87th minute but he fluffed his penalty.

Mumbai City remain atop the ISL table and will next face 10-placed Jamshedpur FC on January 27., while NorthEast United FC take on Kerala Blasters FC on January 29.