The reigning Indian Super League champions Mumbai City FC were thrashed 3-0 by Kerala Blasters on Sunday night. Sahal Abdul Samad and Alvaro Vazquez scored wonder-goals for the Blasters while Jorge Pereyra Diaz added one from the spot.
Kerala Blasters put an end to champions Mumbai City’s four-game winning streak by putting three goals past them at the Fatorda on Sunday night. The Blasters put their recent miseries behind to secure only the second win of the season, which came courtesy of a couple of special strikes from Sahal Abdul Samad and Alvaro Vazquez.
Vazquez, especially, looked sharp throughout the night for Kerala. The forward showed signs of his talismanic qualities as early as the eleventh minute when he attempted to catch Mumbai custodian Mohammad Nawaz off his line from just beyond the center circle. Vazquez’s shot was tipped onto the post and behind by a retreating Nawaz, and Mumbai survived the scare.
However, there was nothing the MCFC goalkeeper could do to prevent Sahal from giving the Blasters the lead in the 27th minute. The midfielder had held his position inside the Mumbai box as a cross from Jorge Pereyra Diaz landed in front of him, which he volleyed into the corner. Two minutes after the interval, Vazquez outdid Sahal to put Kerala up by two. The Spaniard received a cross from Jeakson Singh on the edge of the box and, in one fluid movement, volleyed it across Nawaz and into the top-left corner.
Things got better for the Blasters from then on. Mourtada Fall was shown a red card for a cynical foul on Pereyra Diaz in the 49th minute as the forward raced clear on goal. Furthermore, the referee, upon consultation with his assistant, decided to award Kerala a penalty, despite replays showing that the foul had taken place just outside the box. Nonetheless, Pereyra Diaz took the spot-kick himself and put his side three ahead.
Fine margins, and heroics from Nawaz, prevented Kerala from adding more on the night. Meanwhile, at the other end, Mumbai’s clearest chance presented itself to Bipin Singh, who shot over from close range. A match to forget for the Islanders, but one which the Blasters hope will kickstart their season.
