DURAND CUP 2024: Goals extravaganza! Dominating footballing display by Kerala Blasters FC in their opening match. Got their one sided victory against Mumbai City FC with 8-0 scoreline. Two hattrick and a brace from, Kwame Peprah, Noah Sadaoui and substitute player Ishan Pandita. Throughout the match just one shot came from Mumbai City FC, which was off target though.
Experienced Kerala Blasters FC kick off the game with attacking force, young Mumbai City FC defended well under pressure in their own half till 32’nd minute. Mumbai City FC couldn’t attempt any single shot, in the other side Kerala Blasters FC scored three goals before the second half.
At 12’th minute Hormipam passed a ball inside the ball for Luna, but he didn’t made contact with the ball. Within thirteen minutes Kerala Blasters already won four corners, and Mumbai City FC didn’t took a single shot towards the goal. At 25’th minute Luna took a shot from the edge of the box but, the ball goes out of top of the crossbar. Within one minute Mumbai City FC’s defender Mohammed Kaif made a goalline clearance before Peprah could made an attempt with the ball.
At 29’th minute in the right flank Kerala Blasters FC got a set piece, Luna took that set piece and delivered the ball into the box, Noah took a strike with it and placed the ball into back of the net but, he was clearly off side so the goal got cancelled.
At 32’nd minute from the right wing Aiban delivered a cross inside the box, Noah took a volley with it and scored the first goal for his new club KBFC. Within seven minutes from Luna’s pass Peprah took a strike and scored the second goal for KBFC. At 45’th minute Peprah center a ball inside the box for Luna, he took a header and got saved by the Mumbai City FC keeper, with that returned ball Peprah scored his brace and changed the scoreline into 3-0 for Kerala Blasters FC.
Kerala Blasters FC started the second half with scoring, at 50’th minute from Aimen’s cross from the right wing, Noah headed out the ball into back of the net, fourth goal for KBFC. Within three minutes Peprah competed his hattrick, Danish Farooq threads the ball into the box, Peprah with the ball hold some time and then made a powerful finish. 133rd edition of Durand Cup’s first hattrick it was.
KBFC didn’t stopped here, at 76’th minute one more hattrick came from Noah, he scored his thrid and KBFC’s sixth goal of the match with that, the assist was from Sukhan Meitei, he passed the to Noah and, he took a grounder inside from the box and scored that goal.
Super Substitute Ishan Pandita came to the field at 64’th minute, and scored his first goal at 86’th minute, Drincic took a header from a long ball, and headed out into the box but it is clocked by the keeper who was off his line as Pandita tapped it in with that ball and scored that goal, within one minute he scored another goal, which was the final and eighth goal for KBFC today against young MCFC.
Throughout match Young MCFC played defensive game.This is Kerala Blasters FC’s biggest win in its history across all competitions. Today on this rainy day, Kishore Bharati Krirangan witnessed rain of goals which floods the field. A very positive start from KBFC, and a very rejoicing match results for the Manjapada. New signing, KBFC’s new star Noah Sadaou was today’s Man Of the Match, with a hattrick and for his eye catching performance.
Key stats Mumbai City FC vs Kerala Blasters FC:
BALL POSSESSION: MCFC 35%, KBFC 65%
SHOTS : MCFC 1, KBFC 25
SHOTS ON TARGET: MCFC 0, KBFC 13
FOULS: MCFC 5, KBFC 8
YELLOW CARD: MCFC 1, KBFC 0
CORNERS: MCFC 0, KBFC 12
OFFSIDE: MCFC 0, KBFC 5
