Mumbai City booked their place in the semi-finals of the Super Cup with a 1-0 win over Kerala Blasters FC at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa. In a contest defined by the Islanders’ relentless pressing and control, an own goal in the dying stages proved decisive after a dominant display that saw Mumbai City dictate play for most of the match.
The intent was clear from Mumbai City, as they pressed the opposition defence from the very first minute. In spite of this, the first clear chance of the game fell to Kerala Blasters FC in the 10th minute when Adrian Luna slipped a through ball into the path of Koldo Obieta, but Mumbai City goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa read it well and made a sharp save to his left.
As the half progressed, The Islanders grew into the game and enjoyed more possession of the ball. They continued to build momentum as Jorge Ortiz unleashed a powerful shot from long range in the 23rd minute after Mumbai City won the ball back from a goal kick, forcing a save from the goalkeeper.
Kerala Blasters FC struggled to contain Mumbai City’s movement in midfield and wide areas, as the pressure continued to rise. In the 28th minute, defender Sandeep Singh received the first yellow card of the match for a reckless sliding tackle on Zothanpuia. In the fourth and final minute of added time, Sandeep Singh pulled back Vikram Partap Singh to stop a promising attack and received a second yellow card, reducing Kerala Blasters FC to ten men.
Mumbai City piled on the pressure after the restart, winning a corner just two minutes into the second half. The set-piece was played short to Captain Lalliannzuala Chhangte, who’s cross into the box proved too high for everyone. In the 53rd minute, Chhangte came close to breaking the deadlock with a crisp strike destined for the top corner, only to be denied by the goalkeeper. Just two minutes later, a long throw from Kerala caused momentary confusion in the Mumbai defence, but Phurba Lachenpa remained alert once again, producing another sharp save to keep the scores level.
At the 60-minute mark, Mumbai City introduced Brandon Fernandes and Jon Toral in place of Zothanpuia and Vikram Partap Singh to add energy and creativity to the midfield. Kerala Blasters FC responded by reinforcing their defence, sacrificing attacking options in an attempt to absorb the growing pressure.
In the 73rd minute, Jon Toral came close to making an impact, unleashing a strike from the edge of the box that was blocked, as Mumbai City continued to push for the opener. The breakthrough finally came in the 87th minute, as Pereyra Díaz played a clever dinked ball towards the six-yard box, causing chaos between two Kerala Blasters FC defenders. In their attempt to clear, the ball deflected off Freddy and rolled into the net for an own goal, giving Mumbai City the deserved lead.
Following the goal, Mumbai City made further changes, introducing Dhruv Alva and Franklin Nazareth at the start of the seven minutes of added time to consolidate their lead. The Islanders managed the game expertly, showcasing their maturity and composure to keep the ball and nullify Kerala Blasters FC’s late efforts.
Mumbai City will now turn their focus to the semi-final clash against FC Goa, a battle that promises to test their resolve and attacking rhythm against one of the tournament’s most consistent teams.
