ISL 3: Goa end winless run in Mumbai

MUMBAI: FC Goa avoided becoming the first team in the short history of the Indian Super League to go winless after five matches as they earned their first three points of the season with a 1-0 win against Mumbai City FC at the Andheri Sports Complex on Friday.
On an evening that had the home supporters looking forward to a win that would have seen their side leap to the top of the table, with skip per Diego Forlan back after a three game absence, it was Zico's men who were eventually left smiling.
Brazilian midfielder Richarlyson Felisbino arrived at the right time to turn in compatriot Julio Cesar's free kick in the 41st minute that eventually proved enough to settle an absorbing game.
Mumbai's eyes would have lit up at the result in Guwahati on Thursday where leaders early pacesetters NorthEast stumbled at home to reigning champions Chennaiyin, thus paving the way for Alexandre Guimaraes' side to replace The Highlanders atop the table.
Forlan was the unmistakable darling of the home support upon his return from injury as Guimaraes ditched the 4-3-3 formation that had proven effective in Tuesday's 3-3 draw at Delhi Dynamos in favour of a 4-2-3-1system.
As the half progressed, it became increasingly evident that Mumbai were lacking a cutting edge upfront as the ever-dynamic Sony Norde struggled to gel effectively enough with Defederico and Forlan.
And it was the visitors who appeared to swell in confidence in the latter stages of the first period. A wellworked exchange between Cesar and Keenan Almeida saw the Brazilian release the Indian full back whose attempted cross flashed dangerously across the face of goal with Robin Singh lurking.
L Ralte needlessly shoved Almeida on the right edge of the box in the 40th minute which proved a costly challenge. Considering Goa started the game with four Brazilian players, there just had to be a touch of Samba magic to the decisive goal.
Cesar, at the heart of everything good that Goa delivered, sent in a free kick which met the onrushing Felisbino whose left foot stab went in off the crossbar leading to wild celebrations from the Goans in the crowd.