ISL 2024-25: Peprah’s goal helps Kerala Blasters shock defending champion Mumbai City FC
ISL 2024-25: Peprah’s goal helps Kerala Blasters shock defending champion Mumbai City FC
Kerala Blasters pulled off a stunning 1-0 win over defending champion Mumbai City in the Indian Super League at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Friday with Ghanaian Kwame Peprah scoring the match-winner early in the second half.
The win in its last home game brushed away the bitter memories of a poor season to some extent and helped Blasters climb a rung to ninth (28 points) in the league table.
For Mumbai (seventh, 33 points), this loss should make life very difficult. The Islanders need a point from its last match to make the playoffs but it has a tough away game against the already-qualified Bengaluru FC next on March 11.
The match was a listless one for most part but Peprah brought it to life with a powerful strike in the 51st minute. The forward won a forceful duel with Mumbai defender Thaer Krouma on the right inside the box and scored with a lovely angled shot which beat goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa at the near post.
Peprah could have added one more shortly after the hour mark but his shot from the left went wide. And Noah Sadaoui, who replaced him in the 71st minute, was unfortunate to see his attempt hit the bar near the end.
With time running out, Mumbai turned desperate. Its best chance came in the final minute of injury time. But Blasters defender Bikash Yumnam pulled off a goal-line clearance to stop Vikram Partap Singh’s attempt near the line as the home side, and fans, heaved a sigh of relief.
