Mumbai, April 8:Mumbai FC shared honours with Churchill Brothers SC, Goa as they were involved in a goalless draw in a 15th round I-League 2016-2017 match at the Cooperage ground, Mumbai on Saturday.

Mumbai FCas new coach Oscar Bruzon started with Victorino Fernandes and Karan Sawhney in the attack, while skipper Densill Theobald of Trinidad & Tobago, Alex Silva of Brazil, Farukh Choudhary and Djelaludin Sharityar worked in the middle of the field, while the defence was marshaled Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Raegan Singh and Kimkima and they did a good job in supporting goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani who was at his best and was later adjudged a?Man of the matcha and took home the award of Rs 10,000.

Both the teams who are fighting to avoid relegation started cautiously but it was the home side who made their intention clear from the start and in the first minute made a dash towards the rival goal. But Farukh Choudhary was unable to have a clear shot at goal. Thereafter both team were a lot more cautious and there was nothing much to shout about.

However, as the game progressed, Mumbai FC had two good opportunities in while the Goans had just one good attempt at the Mumbai FC goal. In the 36th minute, Alex Silvaas free kick from the right side of the area narrowly sailed over the Churchill Brothers crossbar and a few minutes later, Mumbai FCas Brazilian midfielder Alex Silva got to the end of Densil Theobaldas free-kick, but his header bounced off the horizontal bar much to the dismay of his teammates and the bench.

In between Churchill had a good attempt at goal when from a free-kick near the edge of the area Brendon Fernandes unleashed a rasping drive, but Mumbai FC goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani was equal to the task as he coolly puched the ball away.

In the second half, the Goans seemed to have got their act together and enjoyed more of possession and created the better chances. In the 56th minute Churchillas Liberian forward Ansumana Kromah latched on to Fernandesa pass on the right and flicked across the goal. Goalkeeper Kattimani missed the flight but to his good luck the ball struck the far post and fell nicely for Chesternpaul Lyndogh. But the latter could not do much damage and the Mumbai team heaved a sigh of relief. Two minutes later, Mumbai FC goalkeeper Kattimani charged out in the nick of time and blocked Chesterpaulas who beat the offside trap and chased a through pass from Keenan Almeida.

Later Mumbai FC created a couple of chances, but were unable to find the target. First Karan Sawhney put substitute Clyde Fernandes in the clear but the latter shot just went over the bar and later Sawhney picked up Theobaldas forward pass but shot straight into the hands of goalkeeper Naveen Kumar much to the disappointment of the Mumbai FC fans.

The Mumbai side continue to remain at the bottom of the table with 11 points from 15 games, while Churchill stay in sixth place with 17 points also from 15 matches.

Mumbai will now host Chennai City FC in a 16th round match on Sunday, April 16.

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