So arriving late, just ten days before the season, I missed training and all of the warm-up games. I can't do much about that. Our first game is up against FC Goa, managed by Zico and featuring the likes of Robert Pires and Lucio. Luckily for us Pires is out injured, so defensively I imagine we won't be too troubled.
The boss seems a bit, well, English. He's got his old-fashioned, motivational ways and I don't really think he's making an impact on me and Nicolas, maybe more on the rest of the lads.
'Good afternoon folks from the Fatorda Stadium in Goa for one of the four opening fixtures of the inaugural Indian Super League, a short-term competition set up to promote football in the country. Goa are without marquee star Robert Pires but do have Brazilian international Lucio in their ranks, and Nicolas Anelka will have his work cut out to get past a man of his experience.
As for their opponents, Mumbai City, they have the aforementioned Anelka plus a late addition in fellow former French international Alex Bouvier, younger brother of the former Manchester United captain Francois.
We're underway!
16': Chance here, it's Nadaya down the right, Anelka late arriving - and it's there! Anelka opens the scoring, cutting the ribbon of the spectacle in the Indian Super League! Goa nil, MUMBAI ONE!
23': Miguel Herlein squares one up, dummies Friedrich, on the curler! Great strike, no movement from the 'keeper, Goa back level!
29': 29 minutes gone here, if you're just tuning in it's Goa one, Mumbai one - Nicolas Anelka with the strike just outside of the first quarter of an hour, cancelled out seven minutes later by Herlein. Corner here then, Kottayil to take - OH, scramble in the box - GOOOLLLLLLLLLL! I think Alex Bouvier got the decisive touch! Debut day goals for the Frenchmen, Mumbai back in front!
32': Poor restart from Goa, Bouvier holding picks out Nadaya, it's through to ANNNELLLKKAAAAA! 2 to the good again, Goa in pieces now!
36': Another corner here, poor marking, free header at the back post - ANNHILATION. That's the only word to describe it here. It's Pollalis at the far post, textbook header slammed into the ground and into the roof of the net. 4-1, what an opener here!
55': Hang on, Haidar's seen yellow already here, and in my book that's worthy of another - and the ref thinks so too! Goa's day goes from bad to worse!
82': Herlein is through again, inside right channel - oh what a finish! Once again, 'keeper grounded, smashed in to the top corner. Herlein thinks they can claw this back, probably too little too late now. 4-2.
91': Oh dear, that's poor, very poor in fact from Pollalis - oh and he's gone. Both down to 10, two yellows the deciders in both.
94': That's it then. 4-2 on the day for Mumbai, great start for Peter Reid's boys!
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