Kerala Blasters Super Cup Hopes Shattered by Late Goal
In a match that left thousands of yellow-clad supporters stunned, Kerala Blasters bowed out of the Super Cup after suffering a narrow 1-0 loss to Mumbai City FC in their decisive group fixture at Fatorda on Thursday night.
Important Facts
- Kerala Blasters lost 1-0 to Mumbai City FC in the final group stage match.
- The only goal came in the 88th minute – an own goal by defender Muhammed Saheef after a mix-up with substitute Freddy Lallawmawma.
- Former Blasters striker Jorge Pereyra Diaz provided the cross that led to the decisive moment.
- Blasters played with ten men from the 45th minute after Sandeep Singh received a second yellow card.
- A draw would have taken Kerala Blasters to the semifinals; the defeat knocked them out completely.
- Mumbai City FC finished as group winners and progressed to the last four.
- Goalkeeper Nora Fernandes left a routine cross, expecting defenders to clear, leading to the fatal error.
- In the parallel fixture, Rajasthan United drew 2-2 with Sporting Club Delhi.
- Rajasthan goals: Pedro Astray (22′), Robinson Blandón (35′).
- Sporting Club Delhi goals: Sourav (61′), Alan Saji (90+4′).
Another Late Blow Leaves Blasters Reeling
Last season, Kerala Blasters repeatedly dropped points because of goals conceded in the final minutes. That familiar pain returned at the worst possible time on Thursday. With just a point needed to reach the semifinals, the team from Kochi looked set to grind out a result despite being reduced to ten players right before the break.
Coach David Catala had shuffled his pack wisely after the red card, bringing on fresh legs to keep intensity high on the wings and protect the backline. For large parts of the second half, the plan worked. Mumbai City pressed hard but found no way through a determined yellow wall.
First Half Full of Energy and Incident
The game started at a frantic pace. Mumbai nearly took an early lead when Jorge Ortiz unleashed a powerful drive that rattled the crossbar. Minutes later, Adrián Luna threaded a perfect ball to Tiago Alves, who forced a sharp save from Phurba Lachenpa.
Kerala Blasters dominated the flanks in the opening quarter. Noah Sadaoui and young Thingujam Korou Singh stretched the Mumbai defence repeatedly, creating half-chances that kept the goalkeeper busy. Striker Koldo Obieta also went close with a fierce shot from a tight angle.
As the half wore on, Mumbai gained control and pushed Blasters deeper. Just when it seemed the teams would go in level, Sandeep Singh picked up his second booking in stoppage time, leaving his side a man short for the entire second period.
Second Half Fightback and Cruel Twist
Catala responded immediately, throwing on Freddy Lallawmawma, Huidrom Naorem Naorem, and later Nihal Sudeesh to inject fresh energy. The ten men reorganised superbly, frustrating Mumbai’s attackers and looking comfortable enough to claim the draw they desperately needed.
Everything changed in the 88th minute. Jorge Pereyra Diaz, who once wore yellow with pride, floated in a hopeful cross from the right. Goalkeeper Nora Fernandes shouted to leave it, trusting his defenders to deal with the danger. Muhammed Saheef and Freddy Lallawmawma both went for the same ball, got in each other’s way, and watched helplessly as it trickled into the empty net.
The stadium fell silent. Players sank to their knees. Mumbai players rushed to celebrate with their travelling fans. In one moment of confusion, Kerala Blasters’ Super Cup journey was over.
What the Result Means for Both Teams
Mumbai City FC marched into the semifinals as group leaders, carrying momentum into the knockout stage. Their ability to stay patient and capitalise on a single error underlines why they remain one of the strongest sides in Indian football.
For Kerala Blasters, questions will be asked about defensive concentration in crucial moments. This defeat extends a painful pattern that has cost them dearly across competitions. Fans who travelled to Goa in huge numbers left the stadium heartbroken, wondering what might have been with eleven players on the pitch.
Other Group Match Ends in Thrilling Draw
Earlier in the day, Rajasthan United threw away a two-goal lead against Sporting Club Delhi. Spanish midfielder Pedro Astray opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, followed by Colombian forward Robinson Blandón ten minutes later.
Delhi refused to give up. Sourav pulled one back just after the hour mark, and substitute Alan Saji smashed home a dramatic equaliser in the fourth minute of added time. The result gave Delhi their first point of the tournament while ending Rajasthan’s faint qualification hopes.
With group stages now complete, attention turns to the semifinals where Mumbai City FC will fancy their chances of lifting the trophy. For Kerala Blasters, the focus shifts back to domestic league action and a determination to fix those costly late lapses before they strike again.
Football, as always, delivered drama right until the final whistle at Fatorda.
