Mumbai City FC are the favourites to win this season of Hero Indian Super League. On paper they are the declared winners. If Mumbai can't win this year with this team together, they will be really disappointed with themselves. In Match 2 on Saturday evening, they were up against the Northeast United FC, who have once again change the whole group altogether.

Northeast United FC's strategy to mark Ogbeche with 2 players and tie down angles from Hugo Boumous proved decisive. NEUFC started their campaign under new coach Nus with a win over tournament favourites. They know from the beginning that they can't beat Mumbai City FC by playing offensively. They started defensively and it proved to be the difference between the two teams. Nus worked on their defence, they were synced, strong and cleared everything that came to them.

In 43rd minute of the game, Mumbai City FC's playmaker Ahmed Jahouh was shown a Red Card by refree. Mumbai City FC had to play with 10 men for rest of the match. In the second half, Nus changed the strategy and they knew that 10 men Mumbai will look for a draw, and they started attacking in the second half. The strategy worked yet again for Nus as the Highlanders got the penalty decision in favour of them and Kwesi Appiah made it sure to find the back of the net. You can watch it here :

A @kwes1appiah penalty helped @NEUtdFC beat @SergioLobera1's @MumbaiCityFC in their #HeroISL 2020-21 season opener ??

Watch the goal here ??

Full #NEUMCFC highlights ?? https://t.co/BeSUhhpDK5#HeroISL #LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/EpVyYyvqrc

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) November 22, 2020

Highlanders made sure that they keep the lead till the final whistle and grabbed 3 important points in the opening match of their campaign. On the other hand, Sergi Lobera's team needs to gel well, they are strong on papers but the potential needs to be shown on the ground as well. It is only the first match of the season and after the lockdown some players may feel rusty. But this upset is a sign that no team is minnows in this year's competition and we might see the closest season of ISL this year.