Welcome to Sportstar's highlights of this evening's Mumbai City FC vs Kerala Blasters Indian Super League (ISL 2021-22) clash played at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Goa. This was Aneesh Dey bringing you all the pre-match buildup and live updates from the match.
That is all for today. We will meet you tomorrow when Jamshedpur FC clashes against Bengaluru FC . Thanks for tuning in. Goodnight and take care.
Post-match comments!!
Kerala Blasters has become the first team in this season's ISL to keep a clean sheet against Mumbai City FC.
Starting the second half with a 1-0 lead, courtesy of a Sahal goal, Vazquez doubled KBFC's lead with a scintillating volley in the 47th-minute.
Mumbai's woes continued as minutes after conceding its second, Mourtada Fall was sent off after receiving a second yellow for his two-footed challenge on Diaz inside the box. Diaz, who assisted Sahal for the first goal, made no mistake in converting from the spot to clinch Kerala's third.
This win takes Kerala to fifth on the table with nine points from six matches. Mumbai retains its position at the top of the table with 15 points from seven matches.
Full-time (Mumbai City FC 0-3 Kerala Blasters)!!
90+5' Shot- Prasanth takes a shot from the edge of the Mumbai box but it is not on target.
90+3' Mumbai throwing players forward for the consolation goal but the Tuskers keeping a compact backline to deny the Islanders any opening.
90+1' KBFC Subs- Nishu Kumar and Ayush Adhikari replace Khabra and Lalthathanga.
Five additional minutes!!
90' Shot- Prasanth takes a shot from the edge of Mumbai's box but Mehtab Singh puts in a well-timed tackle to block the shot.
87' Shot- Seityasen showing great feet to make room for himself and take the shot. However, the shot is nowhere near the target.
84' A great ball pinged to Raynier by Cassio but the former cannot bring it down to get his shot away.
83' KBFC Subs- Seityasen Singh and Prasanth Karuthadathkuni replace Vazquez and Sahal.
82' Lalthathanga with a great run going past a couple of Mumbai players on the left flank but he eventually loses control of the ball.
80' Save- Vazquez with another stunning shot on the volley but Nawaz does well to get down and get a glove to it.
78' A good ball swung inside the Kerala box. Jahouh tries to catch it on the volley. His effort is blocked.
Match resumes!!
Drinks break!!
75' Shot- Catatau shoots at goal- it was a tough angle but Gill had to be alert to gather the ball.
74' Raynier tries to thread a pass to Catatau but his pass is intercepted as Kerala players are back defending in numbers. More than the win, the Tuskers are really eager for the clean sheet- something no team has managed against Mumbai this season.
72' MCFC Sub- Raynier Fernandes replaces Vikram.
71' Close- Sahal tries a curler from the right. It is not too far away from the target as Nawaz watches the ball go out for a goalkick.
70' A good break by Kerala by miscommunication between Sahal and Vazquez allows Mumbai to regain possession.
69' A good delivery by Bipin from a Mumbai corner but it did not get a significant touch from a blue shirt.
66' Chance- Bipin with a wonderful chance to pull one back for Mumbai. He is played a wonderful through-ball as he came on the overlap. He is one-on-one with the keeper but skies his shot.
65' The Islanders enjoying more possession currently but not being able to do anything substantial with the ball.
62' KBFC Sub- Chencho Gyeltshen replaces the injured Diaz.
61' It seems like Diaz has pulled his hamstring and won't be able to continue. He is currently receiving medical attention.
58' MCFC Subs- Ygor Catatau and Hmingthanmawia replace Igor Angulo and Amey Ranawade.
57' The defending champion is under a mountain of trouble right now. Kerala looks so good and cohesive as a unit.
55' Vikram Singh cuts inside and tries to curl the ball at Gill's near-post but the goalkeeper does well to clutch the ball.
54' MCFC Sub- Mehtab Singh replaces Mandar Rao.
53' Save- Nawaz makes a great save as Khawlhring takes a shot from the edge of the box.
51' GOOOAAALLLL!!! KERALA TRIPLES IT LEAD!! DIAZ SCORES FROM THE SPOT!!
51' Penalty to Kerala!! Diaz to take it!!
50' Red card- Mourtada Fall sees a second yellow for his two-footed challenge on Diaz inside the Mumbai box. He has to leave the pitch. It is a penalty for Kerala.
47' GOOOAAALLLL!!! KERALA DOUBLES IT LEAD!! ITS VAZQUEZ!! It is a screamer by Vazquez. Easily a contender for goal of the season. He was played a great ball from the right. Vazquez takes his position and hits on the volley with his first-touch. The ball rattles the back of the net.
46' No half-time changes to report by either team.
We are back for the second half!!
HT: MCFC 0-1 KBFC
47' CHANCE FOR MUMBAI! A dangerous cross from Vikram to Angulo has Gill lunging forward to push it out of the box. Desperate few seconds there for the goalkeeper. Mumbai has another chance to get the ball to Angulo but he seems to have gone down in the box with the referee ruling it against him. Seemed for a moment like he was nudged from behind by Khabra there.
45' Three minutes of added time.
42' Referee has a word with Jahouh and Samad after a brief clash between the two.
36' Booking- Mourtada Fall sees yellow.
36' Kerala pulling the momentum their way as Mumbai seems a bit sloppy on the ball since conceding the goal.
31' Shot- Luna takes a shot from distance but it ricochets off a couple of players as Mumbai regain possession of the ball.
Match resumes!!
Drinks break!!
28' Khabra seems to have taken a knock as he is on the ground right now. He should be able to continue as it does not look anything serious.
27' GOOOAAALLL!!! KERALA TAKES THE LEAD!! ITS SAHAL!! One of the best passing moves of the season by Kerala leading up to the goal. It ends with Jorge Diaz sending in a floated ball towards Sahal from the left. Sahal takes the shot on the volley and the ball lashes the back of the net.
24' Cassio delivers a good cross from the right but it does not find a Mumbai shirt. Kerala's defence comes good again.
22' Another swift counter by the Islanders- this time Bipin's final ball to Vikram is disappointing as Kerala does well to clear the ball.
20' Mandar swings in a dangerous ball from the left towards Angulo but Leskovic does well to anticipate the flight of the ball and clear it to safety.
18' Jahouh with a disappointing delivery from a Mumbai free-kick. That is a rare sight.
17' It is Mumbai who is asking all the questions right now. The Kerala backline is under the cosh right now.
15' Mumbai with a well-worked corner. The ball falls to Bipin who takes a shot at goal but the Tuskers do well to clear the ball.
11' Save- Vazquez sees Nawaz off his line and shoots from the half-way line. Nawaz pulls off a magnificent save as the ball hits the crossbar and goes out for a Mumbai corner.
9' Mumbai City FC with a dangerous counter-attack but Vikram's final pass to Bipin is misdirected as Gill collects the ball.
7' Shot- Vazquez goes for goal from the freekick. It was a nice effort from distance but Nawaz is not troubled.
7' Jahouh fouls Luna this time but it is just a freekick to the Tuskers. Referee keeps his cards inside his pocket.
6' Booking- Kerala's Vazquez is shown yellow for his stamp on Jahouh.
5' Igor Angulo played a lovely ball from the left. He flicks it towards goal with his head but Gill collects the ball easily. A nice move there by Mumbai.
3' The ISL champions with a lively start like most of their matches.
2' The ball was cut back to Angulo who shoots. His shot takes a deflection and was creeping inside the goal but gill saves it in the nick of time. The referee blows his whistle for offiside.
1' Fast start by the Islanders. They have a freekick at the edge of Kerala's penalty-area.
1' Kick-off!!
7:30 PM- And we are underway!!
7:15 PM- Missed yesterday's double-header (Chennaiyin FC vs Odisha FC, Hyderabad FC vs FC Goa)? We have got you covered with our ISL recaps.
7:00 PM- Key player for both teams!!
Ahmed Jahouh (Mumbai City FC): The 33-year-old has had the most touches by any player in his team as well as in the league (532). Besides being the top assist provider in the league (5), he has also created the 2nd most chances (16) this season, behind only Jamshedpur FC's Greg Stewart. Defensively, Jahouh has made the most interceptions (13) and tackles (43), the highest among Mumbai City FC players.
Adrian Luna (Kerala Blasters FC): The 29-year-old has made 18 tackles, four interceptions, and five blocks in the defensive department. Luna’s relentless stamina is a boost for Kerala Blasters FC in pressing, counter-pressing, and defending and this makes him an asset for his team.
06:45 PM- Head-to-head record!!
The two sides have faced each other 14 times. Mumbai City FC has won six of those encounters while Kerala Blasters FC has won the fixture just twice. The remaining six fixtures have ended in draws.
6:35 PM- Official lineups are out!!
Mumbai City FC Playing XI: Mohammad Nawaz (GK), Rahul Bheke, Amey Ranawade, Mourtada Fall (C), Mandar Dessai, Cassio Gabriel, Ahmed Jahouh, Lalengmawia, Vikram Singh, Igor Angulo, Bipin Singh.
Subs: Phurba (GK), Mehtab, Rakip, Hmingthanmawia, Inman, Raynier, Tondomba, Gurkirat, Ygor
Coach: Des Buckingham
Kerala Blasters Playing XI: Prabhsukhan Gill (GK), Ruivah Hormipam, Jessel Carneiro (C), Marko Leskovic, Lalthathanga Khawlhring, Harmanjot Khabra, Sahal Samad, Adrian Luna, Jeakson Singh, Jorge Diaz, Alvaro Vazquez.
Subs: Sandeep (GK), Nishu, Abdul, Ayush, Seityasen, Prasanth, Vincy, Chencho
Coach: Ivan Vukomanovic
6:15 PM- Here's what happened when both teams met the last time!!
6:00 PM- Here's how we think the two sides could line up today!!
Mumbai City Predicted XI: Mohammad Nawaz (GK), Amey Ranawade, Mourtada Fall (C), Rahul Bheke, Mandar Dessai, Lalengmawia, Ahmed Jahouh, Raynier Fernandes, Cassio Gabriel, Bipin Singh and Igor Angulo
Kerala Blasters Predicted XI: Prabhsukhan Gill (GK), Enes Sipovic, Sandeep Singh, Jessel Carneiro (C), Marko Leskovic, Lalthathanga Khawlhring, Sahal Samad, Adrian Luna, Prasanth Karuthadathkuni, Jeakson Singh, Alvaro Vazquez.
5:45 PM- Injury updates ahead of the match!!
There are no injury concerns in the Islanders camp. In the Kerala Blasters FC camp, goalkeeper Albino Gomes will go through further examination, and Rahul KP is expected to be back in training in the first week of January.
MATCH PREVIEW: ISL 2021: Mumbai City looks to extend lead, takes on Kerala Blasters
Mumbai City is sitting pretty atop the Indian Super League (ISL 2021-22) table. It has 15 points, four more than anybody else. It has posted five wins, two more than anyone else.
It has also slammed in 17 goals, four more than any other team. Kerala Blasters must be well aware it is facing an in-form side on Sunday at Fatorda.
Not surprisingly, the Kerala men haven’t started the season in roaring form. They are placed eighth in the table with six points, having won just one game. That sole win had come against Odisha FC (2-1) and the side then drew 1-1 with SC East Bengal last week.
RELATED| ISL 2021-22 Points Table
Mumbai, on the other hand, comes into this match after winning four in a row – against ATK Mohun Bagan (5-1), Bengaluru (3-1), Jamshedpur (4-2) and Chennaiyin (1-0).
Des Buckingham’s men will be keen to make it five on the trot, but it may not be easy: Blasters may not be winning everything, but it isn’t losing that man, either; the side has not tasted defeat since losing to ATK Mohun Bagan in its opening match.
Buckingham said he was happy with the performances of his players. “We were the last to start pre-season, but I am happy with the work we have done and adapted to as a unit,” he said.
His counterpart, Ivan Vukomanovic, said Mumbai City was one of the best teams in the competition. “Every game is a fight for us, whether the opponent is from top of table or bottom,” the Blasters coach said.
Where to watch?
Comments
SHARE