Ten men Mumbai FC just about managed to beat Vasco SC in an 18th round I-League encounter at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Goa.
This win takes Mumbai FC to fourth spot with 27 points having a three point lead over the now fifth placed Mahindra United.
Vasco SC are still reeling at the bottom and would need a miracle to save themselves from going down.
The home side took the lead after goalkeeper Liyaz Koya committed a foul inside the box and Sherzod Nazarov stepped up to the task and didn’t disappoint.
However, Mumbai FC fought well and quickly equalised. Alex Ambrose, who was handed a rare start alongside Abhishek Yadav, sent in a perfect cross which was headed in by the latter in the 10th minute.
In the second session, a Mumbai FC defender’s header allowed Vasco’s Sherzod Nazarov in a one-on-one position but goalkeeper Liyaz Koya came out to make a crucial tackle and thus was sent-off for the same.
With all three substitutions being used, Coach David Booth asked defender James Dissiramah to play as a makeshift custodian while Abhishek Yadav filled in as a stopperback.
The final 15 minutes saw Mumbai FC doing their best to keep the scoreline intact and even managed to score the winner through Kalia Kulothungan.