Punjab FC and Mumbai City FC played out an intense 1-1 draw in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi, on January 16, 2025. Despite dominating possession with 60.8%, Mumbai City struggled to convert their control into goals, while Punjab FC created more significant chances, registering five shots on target compared to Mumbai’s two.
Mumbai City FC came close to opening the scoring in the 14th minute through an exquisite corner kick from Brandon Fernandes. The midfielder’s delivery found Nikolaos Karelis in an unmarked position near the post. However, Karelis’ effort struck the crossbar, letting Punjab FC off the hook. This missed opportunity set the tone for the visitors, who failed to capitalize on key moments throughout the match.
Punjab FC broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time with a swift counter-attack. Luka Majcen initiated the move, sprinting through the middle and linking up with Asmir Suljic. Suljic displayed excellent vision with a perfectly weighted through ball back to Majcen, who finished clinically into the bottom right corner, giving the home side a 1-0 lead at halftime.
The Islanders leveled the game in the 58th minute through a well-coordinated team effort. Vikram Partap Singh controlled a long ball on the right flank and cleverly passed it to Yoell van Nieff. Van Nieff advanced and set up Karelis at the edge of the box. The striker redeemed his earlier miss with a sharp turn and a powerful strike into the bottom right corner.
Mumbai nearly grabbed the lead eight minutes later when Jayesh Rane spotted Vikram outside the box. Vikram unleashed a fierce shot that narrowly missed the right post. Punjab FC responded strongly, with Ezequiel Vidal and Nihal Sudheesh causing problems in the attacking third. In the 74th minute, Vidal’s precise pass found Nihal, whose well-targeted shot to the top right corner was saved impressively by goalkeeper TP Rehenesh.
Mumbai City continued to threaten, with Brandon Fernandes showcasing his set-piece mastery. In the 79th minute, his corner found Mehtab Singh in the box. However, Mehtab’s powerful header lacked direction and went wide of the goal. Punjab FC pressed for a winner, but Mumbai absorbed the pressure and launched a counter-attack in the 87th minute. Van Nieff attempted a long-range shot from over 35 yards but missed the target by a wide margin.
The match ended with both teams sharing the spoils. The draw saw Mumbai City FC move to 24 points in sixth place, while Punjab FC remained in eighth with 20 points. Punjab’s struggles continued, with just two draws and three losses in their last five matches. Despite the evenly matched result, the game showcased moments of brilliance and resilience from both sides.
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