Yakubu gives Mumbai FC breathing space

PUNE: Three goals by Ghanian striker Yusif Yakubu helped hosts Mumbai FC beat last year's winners Churchill Brothers 4-2 and compound their misery in the 25th round of I-league at Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Mhalunge-Balewadi, on Sunday.
Yakubu scored in the 10th, 15th minute and 65th minute while Sehnaj Singh (75th) chipped in with a goal to complete a convincing victory. Ashley Fernnandes (36th) and Jaison Vales (59th) were the goal-getters for the losers.
Mumbai FC are eighth with 28 points from 23 games. Relegation looms large for Churchill with the 13th and last position with 19 points. But they have three games in hand. Mumbai FC, who were dominating the proceeding from the start, took the lead in the 10th minute via Yakubu'sheader off a flag kick taken by defender Sehnaj. Five minutes later, Mumbai FC increased the lead. This time Yakubu got a loose ball from rival defender Ravanan Dharmaraj off midfielder Climax Lawrence's floater. Unmarked Yakubu beat goalkeeper Lalit Thapa to his right.
Churchill had the opportunity to reduce the deficit but Trinanad striker Anthony Wolfetookhisown time and missed a golden chance. However, the Goan team mounted pressure and pulled one back through Fernandes who got a pass from Lenny Rodrigues.
After the breather, Churchill made repeated attacks and scored the equalizer through Vales off a defensive lapse from Sehnaj. But Yakubu made the difference again six minutes later by converting a cross from Ashutosh Mehta from the right flank. Sehnaj made amends for the earlier defensive lapses by booting him a goal from 30 yards which sealed three points for MFC. Churchill were without the services of defenders Saran Singh and Raju Yumnam due to injuries. But the visitors' defence was clearly off-colour giving a lot of room to the rival strikers to function deep into their citadel.