Mumbai City FC Becomes First Indian club to Win a Match in AFC Asian Champions League

They defeated the Iraqi Air Force Club 2-1 in a Group B tie at the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Mumbai-based Rahul Bheke scored the winning goal,which was a header thrown at the 75th minute. Before that, the three-time AFC Cup champions’ Hammadi Ahmed made the first goal in the 59th minute, and then Diego Mauricio converted the second goal. 

A Goalless First Half

After the first half ended, Hammadi Ahmad secured the first goal of the game for Air Force Club. Mumbai City then unexpectedly rallied with goals from Mauracio and Bheke to curate a monumental win for the club. Air Force Club took over in the early minutes, and Mumbai City was unable to keep up the pressure yet the Iraqi side couldn’t convert countless opportunities they received. Air Force Club’s Alaa Abbas was on a roll but the forward couldn't get past goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa in the ninth minute.

Air Force Club missed another chance after Abbas headed a Dhurgham Ismail delivery which went way above the bar. They were almost caught off-guard in the 31st minute when Mumbai City’s Ahmed Jahouh plunged into the danger area but Diego Mauricio couldn't hit the target. They messed up another opportunity in the 34th minute,when Hussein Jabbar struggled to redirect Ismail’s ball into the net. Mumbai City's Vikram Singh tried to net the ball two minutes before the half time break but Jabbar thwarted his effort.

The Match Gained Pace in the Second Half

Air Force Club almost overtook Mumbai City in the 52nd minute when Shareef Abdulkadhim looked to establish a lead. Seven minutes later, Ahmed offered the ball to the back of the net from inside the six-yard box. Mumbai City was soon awarded a penalty in the 70th minute following Ali Kadhim’s foul on Mauricio, and the Brazilian converted with ease. The equalizer changed the pace of the game as Bheke increased Mumbai City’s lead. He shot a swift corner from Jahouh to secure the match and earn a historic first three points. Mumabi FC will next face UAE’s Al Jazira on Thursday.

Coach Des Buckingham Overwhelmed By the Win

Mumbai City FC players and the Head Coach Des Buckingham were elated after scripting history at the King Fahd Stadium. Although Buckingham was exhilarated by what his team pulled off, he shifted his attention to the future. "Mumbai City must gear up for the upcoming games now" as Des Buckingham explained at the post-match press conference:

"I think the result is a huge result and it's a historic moment not just for our club but also for Indian football. It's something the players and th  staff have been striving to achieve and we got there in the end. Now it's important to refocus, as we have four more important games to go. We've got to see what we can achieve in those four games.

They defeated the Iraqi Air Force Club 2-1 in a Group B tie at the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Mumbai-based Rahul Bheke scored the winning goal which was a header thrown at the 75th minute. Before that, the three-time AFC Cup champions’ Hammadi Ahmed made the first goal in the 59th minute and then Diego Mauricio next.