Host Mumbai City FC wrapped up a spectacular 4-2 win against Kerala Blasters FC at the Mumbai Football Arena on Sunday night. The triumph which was their first one at their home base and second overall in the ongoing Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season was set up at the back two goals from Nikolaos Karelis on either side of the half, alongside goals with late goals from Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) graduate Nathan Rodrigues and skipper Lallianzuala Chhangte.  Jesus Jimenez and Kwame Peprah on the other hand found the back of the net for the visitors in an exciting second half which saw five goals being scored by both the teams. 

The defending champions Mumbai City in the process moved up to seventh position on the table, securing nine points from six matches, while the three times runners-up Kerala Blasters are placed tenth with eight points from  seven matches.

The Petr Kratky-coached side, which dominated the proceedings in the early part of the match with their attacking play and tested the visitor’s side in the first five minutes itself with three early attempts on the rival goal. Buoyed by the holiday crowd, Mumbai City took the lead first through their Greek based striker Nikolaos Karelis whose pinpoint accuracy from close range was visible when he tapped in a squared up pass by Chhangte soon after. The 32-year old Greek timed his run to perfection and struck the ball home without breaking any sweat in the ninth minute

While the Islanders pressed hard to extend their 1-0 lead, the Blasters also intensified their search for an equaliser through the remainder of the first half only to be denied by Mumbai City’s resilient backline. Despite the Blasters’ five shots on target, the Islanders went into the break with their one-goal lead intact.

The game hung fairly in balance before resulting in a goal-scoring frenzy in the final 40-odd minutes. It all kicked off with Kerala Blasters FC defender Naocha Singh getting shown a yellow card in the 55th minute, handing the Islanders a spot-kick. Karelis converted the penalty to ensure a 2-0 lead.  The Mikael Stahre  coached visiting  side however reduced the deficit soon after – thanks to forward Kwame Peprah drawing a foul inside the 18-yard box.

Blasters reliable goal-scorer Jesus Jimenez stepped up on the spot, the lead of the home side was halved as the forward fired the ball to the top left corner in the 57th minute. Peprah was central in securing the equaliser too, as a culmination of a dynamic Kerala Blasters FC attack. Adrian Luna’s slick delivery to Peprah at the centre of the box was powerfully headed in by the forward, levelling the scores in the 71st minute. The 23 year old Ghanaian striker who was already on a yellow card however was sent off just afterwards for his wild celebration that saw him removing his jersey though.

The ten man Kerala Blasters FC outfit soon found the going tough in the remaining time down to 10 men. Four minutes later, Mumbai City FC earned a corner and Brandon Fernandes’ delivery that was not cleared properly by the visitors’ backline found its way at the feet of Nathan, who drilled the ball into the bottom left corner to become the fourth youngest goal-scorer for Mumbai City FC in the ISL at 20 years of age, after Pranjal Bhumij (19y 217d), Vikram Partap Singh (19y 319d), and Gurkirat Singh (20y 165d).

At the 90th minute mark, the Islanders were handed a reprieve as Vibin Mohanan’s foul inside the box gave them another spot-kick. The home crowd favourite Chhangte converted the penalty with a left-footed shot to the bottom right corner to give Mumbai City FC to ensure a 4-2 lead

Nikolaos Karelis (Mumbai City FC) was appropriately named the Key Performer of the Match for his h two goals, in addition to completing 10 out of his 11 attempted passes, and making one tackle too.

Mumbai City FC will play their next match against Chennaiyin FC on 9 November whereas Kerala Blasters FC will face Hyderabad FC on 7 November.

Result:
Mumbai City FC 4 (Nikolaos Karelis 9’ 55’, Nathan Rodrigues 75’, Lallianzuala Chhangte 90’) beat Kerala Blasters FC 2 (Jesus Jimenez 57’, Kwame Peprah 71’). (HT 1-0)