In a pulsating encounter that had significant implications on the playoff picture, Hyderabad FC goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh produced a man-of-the-match display to help his side hold Mumbai City FC to a goalless draw. The stalemate at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium on Wednesday night saw Mumbai inch above Bengaluru FC into fifth place, but threw the door open for seventh-placed Odisha FC to catch them.
Mumbai’s Missed Opportunities
The Islanders, desperate for maximum points to cement their playoff spot, started on the front foot with Lallianzuala Chhangte testing Arshdeep early on. Mumbai thought they had the breakthrough in the 17th minute when Mehtab Singh’s header from a corner cannoned off the crossbar with Arshdeep well beaten.
Incredibly, Mumbai had the ball in the Hyderabad net minutes later, only for it to be chalked off. Chhangte got the faintest of headed touches to a cross before Jon Toral tapped it in from close range, but the offside flag cut short their celebrations. Toral, still searching for his first ISL goal, went close again but was denied by the outstretched leg of Arshdeep.
Arshdeep to the Rescue
As the game flowed from end to end, it was Arshdeep who kept Hyderabad in it with a string of outstanding saves. The pick of the bunch came when he somehow clawed away a point-blank Jorge Ortiz effort that seemed destined for the back of the net. Ortiz, like Toral, is still seeking his first goal for Mumbai since joining in January.
My job is to make saves for my team. I’m just happy I could contribute and help us get a valuable point tonight.
– Arshdeep Singh, Hyderabad FC goalkeeper
With Mumbai throwing everything at Hyderabad in search of a late winner, Arshdeep was called upon again, this time denying the dangerous Chhangte in a one-on-one situation. It proved to be the final act of an enthralling contest, with both sides forced to settle for a share of the spoils.
Playoff Implications
The draw takes Mumbai up to 5th place, one point above Bengaluru FC, but Odisha FC can leapfrog both with a victory in their game in hand. The battle for the final two playoff spots looks set to go down to the wire.
- Mumbai City FC – 5th, 26 points (19 games)
- Bengaluru FC – 6th, 25 points (19 games)
- Odisha FC – 7th, 23 points (18 games)
For Hyderabad, while the draw keeps their mathematical chance of making the playoffs alive, they will need an extraordinary sequence of results to go their way. Manolo Marquez’s men are 9th, five points off the playoff spots with only two games remaining.
We’re not giving up until it’s impossible. We’ll keep fighting and try to win our last two games. Then we’ll see where it takes us.
– Manolo Marquez, Hyderabad FC head coach
As the ISL enters its final stretch, the race for playoff spots is only getting more intriguing. With several teams still vying for a place in the top six, every point is precious. Draws, like the one produced by Mumbai and Hyderabad’s hard-fought battle, could prove pivotal when the dust settles on this captivating ISL season.
