Mumbai City FC qualified for the AFC Champions League 2023–24 by beating Jamshedpur FC 3-1 in the Champions League Playoff at the Payyanad Stadium in Manjeri in Kerala. This will be the Islanders' second qualification to Asia’s premier club tournament after reaching the group stage of the 2022-23 AFC Champions League.
After a sluggish first half, Mumbai City managed to draw first blood with an Ahmed Jahouh penalty in the 53rd minute. Winger Lallianzuala Chhangte was brought down by Red Minner’s defender Ricky Lallawmawmaon on the right side of the penalty area before the Moroccan midfielder slotted in the spot kick.
Then seventeen minutes later, Alberto Noguera doubled the Islanders’ lead from a corner-kick, as the Jamshedpur defence failed to clear the ball. Then at the 80-minute mark, defender Eli Sabiá pulled one back for the Red Miners, scoring a set-piece goal off a corner kick. But in the dying moments of the game, Mumbai’s subs Greg Stewart and Vikram Pratap Singh combined to strike, finishing off the game at 3-1.
Reacting to this win, Mumbai City FC manager Des Buckingham talked about how the few key changes made in the team came good, especially after the players were away for the last two weeks. He said, “We have different ways with how we want to play. We tried to change a few things and glad they worked. They haven’t played for four weeks, we haven’t played for two weeks so the consistency was going to be a challenge. We stuck to our game plan and it worked.
Further talking about Greg Stewart being on the bench, Buckingham stated that the Aussie wasn’t happy with the call but perfectly performed his role in the game. He said, “We’ve got six very good foreign players. We had different reasons for the way we started tonight. He got a bit sick and that’s why could not start. We’ll enjoy the win and getting into the Champions League to represent India. We fly back to Mumbai tomorrow and we’ll put our attention to the Super Cup.”
