Mumbai City FC produced a clinical first-half performance to blow SC Delhi away and then closed out the game with a late insurance strike as the Islanders ran out comfortable 4–1 winners in the opening Group D fixture of the AIFF Super Cup at Fatorda.
The result was settled inside the first 45 minutes. Mumbai’s tempo, precision in the final third and intelligent movement off the ball exposed a young SC Delhi side that frequently looked a step late.
While the hosts rallied after the interval and registered their maiden competitive goal through Andrei Alba from the spot, Mumbai’s attacking balance and threat from wide areas proved decisive Vikram Partap Singh ending the night with a brace and a man-of-the-match showing.
From the first whistle the Islanders took control. The opening goal came in the seventh minute from a move that showcased Mumbai’s ability to create danger from quick combination play.
Lallianzuala Chhangte combined down the right with defensive movement and a precise pass from Tiri found Jorge Pereyra Díaz. The Argentine made no mistake, nodding beyond a scrambling defence and into the net to hand Mumbai an early lead.
Barely two minutes later Mumbai doubled their advantage. It was an even more composed finish: Vikram timed a run beyond the last line, found space between centre-backs and curled a clinical finish to make it 2–0. The goal underlined Mumbai’s plan to overload and penetrate in the half-spaces; Vikram’s movement in those channels troubled SC Delhi’s inexperienced backline all evening.
SC Delhi’s hopes of regaining a foothold were dented further when Jorge Ortiz rattled the post midway through the half with a stinging effort, but the third goal and the one that effectively closed the contest as a contest arrived in the 32nd minute. A flowing attack ended with Vikram drawing two defenders before squaring for Jorge Ortiz, who calmly slotted home.
The combination of incisive wing play, late runs from the front and intelligent recycling of possession meant Mumbai left Fatorda’s first half with a commanding 3–0 lead.
Beyond the goals, the first 45 minutes also hinted at why Mumbai have been such a force. They dominated possession, rotated the ball with purpose and tested SC Delhi’s defensive organisation repeatedly.
Chhangte’s directness and ability to deliver in tight areas created openings; Ortiz and Pereyra provided the finishing touch. For SC Delhi, the defensive errors poor marking at set-pieces, delayed cover runs and an inability to close down the space between midfield and defence were the recurring theme.
The second half began with Delhi attempting to press higher and wrestle back momentum. Mumbai made a tactical tweak, replacing Ortiz with Brandon to keep fresh legs in midfield and maintain their control of possession.
For a sustained 20-minute spell after the restart, SC Delhi looked the better side buoyed by home support and some promising forward bursts. They won multiple corners and forced saves from Mumbai’s goalkeeper, but were unable to convert pressure into goals.
Their breakthrough finally came in the 75th minute from the penalty spot. A rash challenge in the box brought the referee’s whistle, and Andrei Alba stepped up to convert coolly to send the Fatorda crowd into delirium the club’s first-ever goal in a competitive fixture. The goal gave Delhi a glimmer of belief and briefly altered the flow of the match as they searched for a second to mount a late fightback.
That promise was short-lived. Mumbai weathered the storm, reasserted defensive composure and saw out the closing stages. The Islanders, ever the counterthreat, sealed the victory in stoppage time when Vikram produced a composed finish to make it 4–1. The second goal underlined the striker’s predatory positioning and timing; having tormented defenders all night, Vikram took his second with the calm of a forward used to decisive moments.
Several individual performances stood out. Vikram’s brace and intelligent off-the-ball runs were central to Mumbai’s dominance; he linked the play between midfield and attack while consistently threatening the box. Chhangte’s work-rate and delivery from wide areas created multiple openings.
Jorge Pereyra Díaz showed his aerial threat and predatory instincts early on, while Ortiz’s movement and shot power kept the opposition unsettled. For SC Delhi, Alba’s penalty conversion and tireless work were positives to take from an otherwise difficult night; he led the line with heart and provided the spark the hosts needed when momentum briefly swung their way.
Defensively, SC Delhi must rue a handful of avoidable lapses. The first two goals stemmed from spaces in transitional moments and marking errors; those are the margins that separate teams at this level. Coach SC Delhi will want his team to close those gaps quickly both to restore confidence and to steady the team for the challenges ahead in Group D.
Tactically, the match was a demonstration of Mumbai’s game plan: high intensity, wing-overloads and quick interchanges to stretch defences. Their first-half execution was nearly flawless. SC Delhi’s second-half improvement showed resilience and character, yet the gulf in quality and experience dictated the final outcome.
With this win, Mumbai City begin their Super Cup campaign on the front foot a statement of intent in a difficult group. SC Delhi, meanwhile, will have to regroup quickly; there were encouraging signs after the break, but they will need to tighten defensively and convert promising sequences into goals if they are to pose a genuine challenge in the remaining fixtures.
Final score: SC Delhi 1–4 Mumbai City FC (Pereyra Díaz 7’; Vikram Partap Singh 9’, 90+6’; Jorge Ortiz 32’; Andrei Alba 75’ pen).
