World Courant
Mumbai, India – Decked out in shades of blue with fan jerseys, billboards and banners, DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai hosted the largest soccer match on Indian soil as Mumbai Metropolis welcomed Asia’s most profitable membership, Al Hilal, to the AFC Champions League.
In entrance of a boisterous crowd of round 30,000 individuals on Monday, Mumbai Metropolis put in a strong defensive efficiency within the first half, however second-half targets from Al Hilal’s Aleksandar Mitrovic and Michael ensured the Indian Tremendous League (ISL) crew misplaced their night needed to finish. in a dropping tone.
The turnout for the match was spectacular however not stunning contemplating there had been a number of fuss about it for greater than a month after Mumbai Metropolis have been drawn in Group D with Al Hilal, who’ve received the AFC Champions League a document 4 occasions.
The prospect of seeing high-profile gamers like Neymar, Mitrovic, Ruben Neves and Kalidou Koulibaly on residence soil excited followers in India, with 1000’s signing as much as purchase tickets for the match.
Mumbai Metropolis initially deliberate to host the match at Balewadi Stadium in Pune, however because of excessive fan curiosity and security causes, they shifted the match to DY Patil Stadium, which has a capability of round 42,000 individuals.
“For me it has all the time been a dream to see a crew from Mumbai play within the AFC Champions League. Now I’ve seen it in Mumbai itself, which made it much more particular,” Mumbai Metropolis fan Tushar Sinha informed Al Jazeera.
“Al Hilal is the largest membership in Asia for the time being, so to play in opposition to them is likely one of the greatest video games Mumbai Metropolis has had. To see my membership enjoying in entrance of so many individuals at residence was nothing wanting insanity.”
As followers in Navi Mumbai watched and cheered on Mitrovic, Neves and Koulibaly, they have been unable to catch a glimpse of Neymar after the Brazilian did not journey to India after present process cruciate ligament and meniscus surgical procedure final week.
The information of Neymar’s damage, which emerged in mid-October, discouraged a number of impartial followers, as a lot of them tried to resell their match tickets, some even at a lowered fee.
Mumbai Metropolis gamers have been additionally upset as they missed the possibility to play in opposition to Neymar, who received the UEFA Champions League with La Liga membership Barcelona in 2014-15.
“We have been all upset as a result of everybody needs to play in opposition to the perfect participant on this planet and Neymar is considered one of them,” Mumbai Metropolis midfielder Lalengmawia Ralte informed reporters on the pre-match press convention.
“It would not have mattered if he had scored 4 or 5 targets in opposition to us, not less than we might have been joyful if we had the possibility to share the pitch with him,” the teenager mentioned with a smile.
Though Neymar didn’t play within the match, that didn’t cease the Indian followers from exhibiting their assist for him as tons of of individuals wore the Al Hilal shirt along with his title on the again.
Followers from Kerala in southern India traveled to Mumbai for the match, holding a banner wishing Neymar effectively (Manasi Pathak/Al Jazeera)
No Neymar, no drawback for Al Hilal
Even with out the talisman Neymar, Al Hilal seemed harmful going ahead, because of the attacking prowess of midfielder Neves and striker Mitrovic.
The Riyadh crew got here shut a couple of occasions within the first half earlier than lastly breaking the impasse within the 62nd minute when midfielder Michael scored a header after an help from Mohammed Alburayk.
Michael beat Mumbai Metropolis defender Akash Mishra on the far publish and headed the ball comfortably into the online earlier than unleashing Cristiano Ronaldo’s signature ‘Siu’ celebration, which the gang joined in with.
Mitrovic, who scored a hat-trick within the 6-0 win over Al Hilal within the first leg, added the second aim within the eighty fifth minute when the ex-Fulham striker rose highest to attain a header on the far publish after a dink from Malcolm.
The aim got here as a reduction for the Serbia worldwide, who missed a number of probabilities earlier than discovering the online. The gang additionally loved the aim as they went right into a frenzy throughout his celebration.
Mumbai Metropolis’s efficiency within the first half was commendable, however the crew succumbed to strain once they have been lowered to 10 gamers early within the second half when Mehtab Singh was proven a second yellow card for a sort out on Neves.
“Within the first half we did an incredible job controlling the match however after that Mumbai received drained. Within the second half we have been capable of obtain our targets,” Al Hilal’s Neves mentioned in a post-match interview.
“We knew the match could be completely different than in Saudi Arabia. They’re a really organized crew and it’s by no means straightforward to play in opposition to compact groups. At this time we performed in opposition to a crew that defended very effectively, however we have been affected person and did very effectively.”
The win stored Al Hilal prime of the group with 9 factors from 4 video games, persevering with their unbeaten document this season. They’re about to qualify for the knockout spherical.
Mumbai Metropolis, then again, appears set to be eradicated from the group stage for the second season in a row as they’ve but to take some extent from 4 video games.
Regardless of the defeat, Mumbai Metropolis coach Des Buckingham was in good spirits after the match.
“I am extraordinarily proud of what I noticed,” Buckingham mentioned on the post-match press convention. “Earlier than I used to be deployed, I assumed we had placed on a very good present of what Indian soccer can do on this stage in opposition to the perfect crew on this competitors.”
Al-Hilal SFC gamers have a good time after scoring a aim throughout the AFC Champions League 2023/24 Group D soccer match between Mumbai Metropolis FC of India and Al-Hilal SFC of Saudi Arabia at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on November 6, 2023 (AFP)
‘Asia’s most vital competitors’
The sight of tons of of Al Hilal jerseys amongst followers was an indication of how fashionable the Saudi Professional League has grow to be, even within the cricket-mad nation of India.
After spending almost half a billion {dollars} luring prime gamers and coaches from conventional European powerhouses, the Saudi Professional League has captured the eye of world soccer like by no means earlier than.
It began when five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr from Riyadh in January after leaving Manchester United.
The switch of the Portuguese celebrity, who was reportedly price greater than $200 million per 12 months, began a pattern as many adorned gamers equivalent to Neymar, Neves, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante and Sadio Mane left Europe’s prime leagues for the profitable Saudi Professional League.
Whereas the Saudi Professional League’s lavish spending has modified the character of the switch market, it has additionally attracted criticism, with critics labeling it as Saudi Arabia’s try and shift the main focus from criticizing its document to space of human rights, an accusation that Saudi soccer has denied.
The Saudi sovereign wealth fund – Public Funding Fund (PIF) – owns 75 % of the Saudi Skilled League golf equipment Al Ittihad, Al Nassr, Al Hilal and Al Ahli.
Al-Hilal SFC’s ahead Aleksandar Mitrovic (C) and goalkeeper Phurba Tempa Lachenpa (L) of Mumbai Metropolis FC compete throughout the AFC Champions League 2023/24 Group D soccer match between Mumbai Metropolis FC of India and Al-Hilal SFC of Saudi Arabia on the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on November 6, 2023 (AFP)
Mumbai Metropolis fan Sinha mentioned the Saudi Professional League, which has 18 groups, has excelled in spreading its recognition globally.
“The Saudi Professional League has all the time been a high-investment league, however after Ronaldo joined, individuals know a lot about it,” Sinha mentioned. “I see youngsters in India sporting Al Nassr jerseys with Ronaldo’s title on the again… it is loopy!”
One other Mumbai Metropolis fan, Samar Pathania, mentioned the Saudi Professional League’s competitiveness has “skyrocketed” because of the inflow of high-profile gamers and the league goals to be the perfect in Asia.
“Over the previous two years, there was an enormous shift in the direction of altering the league from merely the Saudi league to the premier league in Asia,” Pathania mentioned. “It is not only a star-studded league, it is a star-studded league with nice recruiting.
“One of the best factor in regards to the Saudi Professional League is that they all the time had the financing. What they did effectively was that they developed their home gamers to a sure minimal stage after years of coaching earlier than spending the cash on overseas gamers. That’s the reverse of what the Indian Tremendous League did.”
A couple of seasons in the past, fashionable overseas gamers equivalent to ex-Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov, former Uruguay striker Diego Forlan, ex-Irish captain Robbie Keane and others joined the ISL as marquee signings because the league tried to spice up its recognition in India enlarge.
However these star gamers joined the Indian league when India’s home gamers have been nonetheless creating and thus couldn’t sustain with them.
“The ISL received the massive overseas gamers first when Indian gamers did not meet the requirements… it is okay to make use of huge names to extend your recognition but it surely’s vital to develop your personal gamers to a sure stage earlier than you signal star foreigners,” Pathania defined.
Mumbai welcomes Al Hilal superstars regardless of 2-0 defeat | Soccer
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