Two freak goals enabled hosts Mumbai FC defeat Salgaocar 2-1 in a round nine match of the ONGC I-League at the Cooperage in Mumbai on Friday.
The hosts surged ahead as early as in the second minute through a bizarre goal that was credited to Ghanaian Evans Quao.
Salgaocar equalised through Keita Manjdou in the 61st minute, but substitute Kayne Vincent scored in the 84th minute to put the match beyond the visitors.
The match began in a dramatic fashion as Mumbai FC opened their account even before the players had settled down.
Quao tried to head a Noel Wilson free-kick from around 30-35 yards, and though he didn't make contact the ball went into the goal after defender Gurpreet Singh, trying to clear it, unintentionally guided it in.
Conceding a goal so early in the match affected the morale of the visitors, who looked listless on the field and missed many chances to equalise.
Ekene Ikenwa was one of the prime culprits, missing as many as three opportunities, including two nicely set-up passes which he just had to tap the ball in.
The visitors, who went to half-time trailing 0-1, were a completely different team in the second half. They looked aggressive and controlled more of ball possession, even as their rivals turned defensive.
The equaliser came soon as Mandjou made full use of a free-kick from skipper Luciano Sabrosa from inside the box.
Sensing trouble, the home side made some quick changes, bringing in Dane Pereira for Surjit Roy, Alex Ambrose for an injured Anas Edathodika and Vincent for Bashiru Abbas Mohd.
The substitutions had the desired effect as ten minutes after coming to the field, Vincent cashed in on the confusion between Salgaocar goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey and Gurpreet, who were expecting an off-side call from the linesman, and lobbed the ball over Chaubey's head to put Mumbai FC ahead and give them what ultimately proved the match-winner.
