Mumbai City drub Kerala Blasters in goalfeast
(Courtesy : ISL Media)
Modou Sougou scored four goals in the game, becoming the first player to do so in the history of the league.
Mumbai City FC will be delighted with their showing in the first phase of the Hero Indian Super League after an impressive 6-1 demolition of Kerala Blasters FC at the Mumbai Football Arena on Sunday.
Modou Sougou was the star of the show, becoming the first player to score four goals in a match in ISL history (12’, 15’, 30’, 90+4’). Rafael Bastos (70’) and Matias Mirabaje (89’) were the other scorers for Mumbai, while Kerala’s consolation came from Seiminlen Doungel (27’).
On the back of that sensational result, Mumbai inched to within three points of league leaders Bengaluru FC, while Kerala Blasters remained eighth.
The Islanders gave Kerala a taste what was to come right from the start as Sougou almost turned in a cross from Arnold Issoko in the very first minute.
But Sougou would taste success only in the 12th minute as the Kerala defence was caught ball watching. Paulo Machado received the ball on the left flank and sent in a peach of a cross which was turned home by a sliding Sougou.
Three minutes later, the Senegalese was at it again. This time, goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh was the culprit as his poor pass from the back fell to Raynier Fernandes, who passed it to Sougou. The striker went on to unleash a piledriver that flew into the net to double Mumbai’s advantage.
A stunned Kerala Blasters tried to mount a response and got a goal back before the half an hour mark. After Sahal was dispossessed, the loose ball fell to Doungel on the edge of the box and the Kerala forward went on to beat Amrinder Singh with a shot that went in off the post.
However, any ray of hope that Kerala would have had was quickly extinguished. Sougou was not picked up inside the box once again and the striker headed in Subhasish Bose’s cross from the left to make it 3-1 in the 30th minute.
ALSO READ
-
Kolkata Derby Talking Points: It was Mohun Bagan’s loss more than East Bengal’s win
-
Kolkata Derby Indian Player Ratings: Danmawia the star as East Bengal edge five-goal thriller
-
Talking points: Does Chennai City's draw open up the title race again?
Mumbai were in complete control by this time and Kerala’s task was made even harder just before the half-time break as Zakeer Mundampara received a second yellow card for his challenge on Bastos and was sent off, reducing the Men in Yellow to 10 men.
The game slowed down at the start of the second half as Mumbai looked to frustrate their opponents.
Despite Kerala’s intent, it were Mumbai who had all the clear-cut chances. Sougou could have added a couple more goals to his tally, while Amrinder was called into action by Courage Pekuson at the other end.
But Mumbai City went on to quell Kerala’s challenge with two outrageous goals late on in the second half. In the 70th minute, Issoko broke forward on a run before losing the ball. It fell to Bastos who let a terrific strike fly from 35 yards which beat a diving Dheeraj all ends up.
[KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]Towards the end of regulation time, it was Matias Mirabaje’s turn to wow the spectators with an incredible left-footed long ranger that beat the Kerala goalkeeper again.
In added time, there was time for another goal as Nemanja Lakic-Pesic’s clearance fell to Sougou who had the simple task of rolling the ball in, with Dheeraj well off his line.
Latest News
- [WATCH] Roy Krishna's stunning goal against Mohun Bagan
- Full list of athletes to win Laureus Sportswoman of the Year award
- Son Heung-Min Helping Spurs' UEFA Champions League Qualification Bid
- AIFF Technical Committee recommend Chaoba Devi as senior women's team head coach
- Swami Vivekananda NFC U-20 2024: Bihar vs Sikkim Live
Trending Articles
- Hyderabad FC handed 'another' FIFA transfer ban
- Jahouh's domination and other talking points from Odisha FC's win over Mohun Bagan
- Some key stats Mumbai City boast heading into ISL semis against FC Goa
- Rahim Saab & Asian Games: Maidaan keeps Indian football alive even at its worst times
- How Lionel Messi could become minority owner at Inter Miami alongside David Beckham?
Editor Picks
- Hyderabad FC handed 'another' FIFA transfer ban
- Rahim Saab & Asian Games: Maidaan keeps Indian football alive even at its worst times
- Top six clubs with most points in single Bundesliga season
- Top 10 favourites to win 2024 Golden Boy Award: Ranked
- Kalyan Chaubey believes I-League 3 to be 'transformative step for Indian football'