Gokulam Kerala vs Mumbai City, Kalinga Super Cup Highlights: El Khayati’s injury-time penalty wins it for MCFC

Late, late drama as Mumbai City snatches a narrow win. The ISL side needed an injury-time goal from El Khayati to get three points today. Gokulam Kerala will regret letting the game of its grasp in the death. 

MCFC 2-1 GKFC

PENALTY!!

Late drama. Noguera squirms into the box from the right flank. He is fouled by his marker and the referee is quick to point to the spot. El Khayati steps up for the pressure penalty. He rolls it into the right bottom corner to give Mumbai the lead late in the game

Chance for Gokulam to hurt Mumbai on a counter attack. It was a four-two situation, before Mumbai defence retreated to their positions. The cross from the right though is a weak one. Chance wasted. 

AVILASH TO THE RESCUE!!

Mumbai once again slices through the Gokulam defence. Lotjem slides a pass for El Khayati. His shot from point blank range is parried away by Avilash. The rebound pops out of the box. Jayesh Rane with the shot now. Save from Avilash again. Lotjem rushes to the rebound and Avilash makes a brilliant reflex save. 

Mumbai now on the lookout for a go-ahead goal. More changes from Petr Kratky as the game opens up further. Gokulam gets a chance on the counter, but the pass forward is overhit. 

Mumbai drives through the right. El Khayati in the half space outside the box. He places a perfect through ball in for Ayush Chhikara, who slides it in past the keeper. Mumbai City draws level. 

MCFC 1-1 GKFC

Gokulam substitute Emmanuel Justin races down the right flank and tries to cut in a cross. Cleared away for a corner. The corner is aimed at Bouba, who once again wins the header. OFF THE CROSSBAR!! Gokulam Kerala was inches away from going two goals up. 

The game resumes after a short drinks break. Alex Sanchez and Van Nieff tangle themselves while going for a loose ball. The referee sides with the Mumbai City midfielder. Mumbai keeps the attacks coming. Lotjem is gifted the time and space to have a crack from inside the box. But he slices it wide. 

Mumbai City tries to work its way into the Gokulam box through the right flank. Jayesh Rane flings a cross in, which is cleared away by Bouba. Mumbai comes rushing forward again. El Khayati with the ball inside the box. But his shot is blocked away by Hakku. 

Good save from Avilash. Gurkirat dummies once to make room. He goes for a low, driven shot and the Gokulam goalkeeper has to make a diving save to preserve his side’s lead. 

Gokulam loses the ball inside their own half. El Khayati charges forward with the ball. His shot is blocked away for a corner. Gokulam deals with the set piece and brings the ball forward again. 

Mumbai unable to stitch together meaningful attacks. Gokulam’s press is doing the trick, for now. Meanwhile, Sreekuttan is shown a yellow card for a late challenge. 

Gokulam with the first corner of the day. Swung into the box and headed away by Mumbai defence. But Sreekuttan retrieves the ball and pumps in another cross. Bouba rises highest to head it to the near post. Lachenpa forced into a save. Mumbai survives!

Mumbai makes a couple of changes for the second half. Gokulam with the first attack of the second half. Sreekuttan cuts in from the left and attempts a shot with his right. Doesn’t get his connection right as the ball flies high and wide. 

Mumbai City kicks start the second half with a sense of urgency, while Gokulam will look to hold onto the slim lead. 

Gokulam Kerala heads into the half-time break with a slender lead, courtesy of a fortuitous goal. Mumbai City has been the dominant force, but has lacked the composure in front of the goal. But they will be furious about the goal which was disallowed. More to come in the second half. 

Hopeful long ball from Azza, looking for Sanchez. Overhit, again. Easily collected by Lachenpa. Nathan Rodrigues bursts into the box for Mumbai. But Hakku makes a vital block to prevent the shot. Muted appeals for a handball. Nothing given.

Another chance for Gurkirat. He gets a free run down the left-hand side and he unleashes a left-footed shot just inside the box. Avilash Paul makes a good diving save down his left. 

Mumbai City players clearly not happy with the referee’s decision. But the game rolls on. Gokulam is seeing a lot more of the ball now as Mumbai players lose their focus ever so slightly. 

Freekick from a crossing position for Mumbai City. Van Nieff swings it in. But Gokulam clears their lines well enough. Now a corner for Mumbai. Once again it is swung in from Van Nieff. Valpuia makes a run to the back post and heads it in. Mumbai City draws level. 

Oh wait!. Gokulam claims there was a whistle before the header, which distracted their defence. The referee agrees to it and the goal is disallowed. 

33’ GKFC 1-0 MCFC

Mumbai has up the ante. Noguera is finding himself on the ball quite a lot now. Bouba loses the ball cheaply now. But Mumbai can’t make the chance count, after Vinit Rai loses the ball while attempting to charge into the box. 

Alex Sanchez looks to lead a counter attack. He gives a back pass to Azza. But the reverse pass from Azza, aimed for Sanchez is a misdirected one. 

But Gokulam gets the lead, against the run of the play. A long freekick is headed goal-bound by Bouba. It ricochets off the post and Alex Sanchez is there to head in an easy finish. 

GKFC 1-0 MCFC

Mumbai City comfortable on possession. They keep moving the ball back and forth. Attack down the right flank. Cross from Sanjeev Stalin to a dangerous territory. Luckily for Gokulam, none of the Mumbai attackers made a run for that cross. 

Gokulam Kerala defender Aminou Bouba tries to unlock the City defence with a long ball. But he overhits the pass resulting in a easy gather for Lachenpa. First shot from Gokulam now. Cross from the right flank and forward Alex Sanchez gets his head onto it. Easy save for Lachenpa there. 

Chance Missed!

Mistake from Rishad, who loses the ball at the edge of the box. Gurkirat Singh pounces on the ball. But he drags his right-footed shot wide of the post. Lucky break for Gokulam Kerala. 

El Khayati is causing Gokulam Kerala some trouble down the left-hand side. Gokulam defender Abdul Hakku is forced into action multiple times, already, to prevent the Dutch attacker from making a penalty box entry. 

Gokulam Kerala unable to break free. They are not helped by some sloppy passing, which has prevented them from holding onto the possession for long. A mistake from goalkeeper Avilash gives Mumbai City a cheap throw-in the attacking third. 

Mumbai City with the early control on possession. They zip the ball around the turf with some good passes to put the early pressure on Gokulam. 

Mumbai wins the first corner of the day. El Khayati whips it in. Cross deep into the cross. The goalkeeper claws it away. Nathan Rodrigues hits the rebound high. 

Mumbai City in its blue outfit, Gokulam Kerala in the green colours. And the game kicks off!

How can you watch the match in India?

The Gokulam Kerala FC vs Mumbai City FC Kalinga Super Cup 2024 match will be live telecasted on the Sports18 Channel (TV).