ISL: FC Goa, Mumbai City FC settle for 0-0 draw

Mumbai, Nov 17 (IANS) Mumbai City FC and FC Goa cancelled each other's goal-scoring threat to settle for a 0-0 draw in an Indian Super League (ISL) match at the DY Patil Stadium here Monday.

It was the second clean sheet for the visitors who remain in seventh spot with nine points while the hosts remain in fifth spot with 12.

Goa will however take heart from this competent defensive performance while Mumbai will rue their inability to score a goal in their third successive game.

It was a fairly even first half with both sides looking to go forward. Mandar Rao Desai and Nicolas Anelka saw their shots go wide within the first few minutes. However, the Peter Reid side slowly began to get a foothold in the game as they kept the ball for longer periods. They found the visitors extremely hard to break down though, and were forced to spread the play wide.

The Robert Pirès-André Santos combo in the middle was influential for the visitors as they dictated the pace of play. The closest either side came to a goal was in the 42nd minute. An André Moritz through ball found its way to Lalrindika Ralte who dashed in and took a shot but Jan Šeda got down quickly to his right and made the stop.

It was more of the same in the second half as both teams attacked with purpose. The mid-field battle continued with Pires and Santos for Goa and Jan Štohanzl and Moritz for Mumbai exerting themselves in a bid to change the game.

Goa pushed forward as the clock ticked on but were unable to get the decisive breakthrough as the final whistle blew.