Mumbai finish on top after playing goalless draw vs Delhi

Mumbai City FC ended their League engagements with a goalless draw against Delhi Dynamos to finish on top of Indian Super League football in Mumbai on Saturday.

The draw left Mumbai on top of the league table with 23 points, a tally that none of the other qualifying teams can overtake.

Delhi Dynamos have 21 points from 14 matches and they will know of their position only after the concluding league clash between Kerala Blasters and NorthEast United FC in Kochi on Sunday.

The draw at Mumbai Football Arena also meant that the two teams -- Mumbai and Delhi -- will not meet in the semi-finals.

Both teams had qualified for the play-offs before this game but their approach was entirely different.

Delhi head coach Gianluca Zambrotta made as many as eight changes with marquee signing Florent Malouda on the bench, while Mumbai coach Alexandre Guimaraes had promised to field his best squad and he stuck to his word with a strong side.

India captain Sunil Chhetri was the only absentee as 20-year-old Udanta Singh made an impressive debut in the ISL.

Mumbai were the better team for the entire game, particularly in the first 45 minutes when they had six attempts on goal. Delhi had only one shot and none on goal.

Mumbai marquee player Diego Forlan was the first to test the rival goalkeeper with a fierce shot after the Uruguayan striker had controlled a perfect cross from the other end by Brazilian midfielder Cafu. Forlan's shot, however, was blocked by Delhi goalkeeper Toni Doblas.

In the second session, both teams went close to scoring and the match could have gone either way. Interestingly, both teams hit the post in successive minutes.

In the 72nd minute, Cafu picked up a ball just outside the box and took a snap shot on the Delhi goal which rattled the post with goalkeeper Doblas looking helplessly.

A minute later, Bruno Pelissari was unlucky at the other end for Delhi as his shot from outside the box took a deflection and struck the post.

Mumbai's last chance to finish their engagements with a win at home came in the 83rd minute. Forlan's delivery was aimed at Lucian Goian who headed it across the face of goal.

Udanta thought he had a chance to head it home from close range, only for Brazilian defender Gerson Vieira to distract him and allow Doblas to collect the ball safely.

Image: Delhi Dynamos'Malsawmzuala shoots the ball away from Mumbai City FC's Kristian Vadocz during their ISL match in Mumbai on Saturday

Photograph: ISL