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Striker Nikolaos Karelis netted a brace for Petr Kratky’s side, scoring in each half to give Mumbai City FC the win over Kerala Blasters.
MCFC’s Nikos Karelis celebrating after scoring against KBFC at Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai on Sunday. (Image: ISL)
Mumbai City FC secured a thrilling 4-2 victory against Kerala Blasters FC at the Mumbai Football Arena tonight, marking their second win of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season. Late goals from Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) graduate Nathan Rodrigues and captain Lallianzuala Chhangte sealed a hard-fought triumph for the Islanders.
Striker Nikolaos Karelis netted a brace for Petr Kratky’s side, scoring in each half. His precision was evident in the ninth minute when he effortlessly converted a squared pass from Chhangte. As Mumbai City FC pressed forward, Karelis timed his run impeccably to strike the ball home.
The game remained balanced until a flurry of goals in the final 40 minutes. It began with Kerala Blasters FC defender Naocha Singh receiving a yellow card in the 55th minute, awarding the Islanders a penalty. Karelis converted the spot-kick, extending Mumbai City FC’s lead. However, the visitors responded swiftly when forward Kwame Peprah was fouled inside the penalty area.
Jesus Jimenez stepped up to take the penalty for Kerala Blasters FC, halving the deficit with a powerful shot into the top left corner in the 57th minute. Peprah played a pivotal role in their equaliser as well. Adrian Luna’s deft delivery found Peprah in the centre of the box, and the forward’s powerful header levelled the scores in the 71st minute. However, Peprah’s night took a turn for the worse as he was sent off shortly after, reducing Kerala Blasters FC to 10 men and opening the door for a Mumbai City FC comeback.
Four minutes later, Mumbai City FC earned a corner, and Brandon Fernandes’ delivery caused chaos in the visitors’ box. The ball fell to Nathan, who drilled it into the bottom left corner, becoming the fourth-youngest goal-scorer for Mumbai City FC in the ISL at 20 years of age, after Pranjal Bhumij (19 years, 217 days), Vikram Partap Singh (19 years, 319 days), and Gurkirat Singh (20 years, 165 days).
In the 90th minute, the Islanders were awarded another penalty when Vibin Mohanan committed a foul inside the box. Chhangte confidently converted the spot-kick, sending a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner, providing Mumbai City FC with a comfortable cushion to see out the match.
Key Player Of The Match: Nikolaos Karelis (Mumbai City FC)
The forward was in fine form, scoring two goals, completing 10 out of 11 attempted passes, and making one tackle.
What’s next for both teams?
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.
