Kerala Blasters FC 0-0 Mumbai City FC: Key Takeaways from ISL 2026-27 match
An eye test for both sides at the very beginning of the ISL
Kerala Blasters FC were held to a goalless draw by Mumbai City FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Sunday. After their heavy defeat against NorthEast United FC, the Blasters needed a good result in front of their home fans.
They showed some improvement, especially in defence, and created a few good chances to score. However, the finishing was once again a problem, and neither team could find the winning goal. Here are five key takeaways from the ISL 2026-27 match.
Sanan continues to be a bright spot for KBFC
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Mohammed Sanan was one of the most active players for Kerala Blasters. His pace and runs down the left caused problems for Mumbaiâs defence, and he tried to make things happen whenever he got the ball. One of his crosses found Hormipam Ruivah inside the box, but the defender could not turn it into a goal.
Sanan also came close to scoring himself. His performance was a positive for the Blasters, as he showed the confidence to take on defenders and create chances. However, the team needs to make better use of the chances he creates. His efforts will mean little if the players inside the box cannot finish them.
Amrinder Singh saves the day for Kerala
The clean sheet was a good result for Kerala Blasters, and Amrinder Singh played a big part in it. Mumbai City had a few dangerous chances, especially through Noufal, who forced the goalkeeper into some important saves.
One of Amrinderâs best moments came when he stopped Noufal from close range. He was called into action again in the second half, while Muhammad Ajsal failed to make the most of a rebound. These saves helped Kerala avoid another disappointing result. While the defenders also deserve credit for keeping Mumbai at bay, Amrinderâs performance was one of the biggest positives for the Blasters.
Mumbaiâs defence stood strong under pressure
Mumbai City deserve credit for the way they defended, especially towards the end of the game. Kerala tried to push forward and sent several balls into the box, hoping to find a late winner. But Mumbaiâs defenders stayed organised and cleared the danger whenever they could.
The Blasters had their chances, but Mumbai did not give them much room to finish comfortably. Their defenders also dealt well with the pressure in the closing minutes.
Although Mumbai had opportunities to score themselves, their ability to hold on to a clean sheet helped them leave Kochi with a point.
Poor finishing costs Kerala Blasters again
Kerala Blasters had enough chances to win this game, but they failed to take them. Hormipam Ruivah missed an early opportunity after connecting with Sananâs cross, while Freddy Lallawmawma could not make the most of a good delivery from Nebojsa Kosovic. Adrian Luna also had opportunities but failed to find the back of the net.
This is becoming a concern for the Blasters. They are getting into good positions, but the final touch is missing. Creating chances is important, but scoring from them is what wins matches. Against Mumbai, Kerala had opportunities to take control of the game but let them slip away. If they continue to miss these chances, even a decent overall performance may not be enough to secure three points.
A clean sheet is good, but one point is not enough
After the 4-1 defeat against NorthEast United, Kerala Blasters needed to show some improvement. Keeping a clean sheet was a step in the right direction, and the team looked more settled at the back. But the goalless draw also showed that there is still work to do.
The Blasters had chances to win the match but could not finish them, while Mumbai also came close on a few occasions. Ashley Westwood will be pleased that his team avoided another defeat, but he will also know that they need to do more going forward. The players showed effort, and there were some positives to take from the game, but the supporters will be disappointed that the team could not turn those chances into a win. Kerala now need to build on the defensive improvement and find a way to score more goals in their upcoming matches.
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