ISL 2017-18: Mumbai City FC 0-1 Kerala Blasters: Referee’s blunder gives Yellow Army three points

Mumbai City FC will feel mistreated by the referee as they lose to Kerala Blasters 1-0 in an Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 match at the Mumbai Football Arena on Sunday.

Iain Hume (23rd) scored in controversial circumstances from a hastily executed Courage Pekuson free kick while the ball was still rolling. The former Leicester City striker even appeared slightly offside as Pekuson picked his run behind a standstill Mumbai defence.

Both teams lined up in a similar 4-2-3-1 shape, with the hosts making one substitution. The injured Raju Gaikwad was replaced by Davinder Singh, who moved in at right-back. For the visitors, former Manchester United player Dimitar Berbatov was out of the team for the day due to injury. Dutchman Mark Sifneos featured in the attack. Siam Hanghal made way for Milan Singh in midfield.

A quarter of an hour into the game, a diving Balwant Singh headed a cross from Sanju Pradhan into the area but his header missed the goal.

However, it was the away team in yellow who drew first blood, with Iain Hume finding the back of the net in the 23rd minute. The build-up to the controversial goal began when Sifneos was brought down by Gerson Vieira in the middle.

Pekuson placed the ball a few meters from where the foul was conceded and quickly moved the ball forward while the ball was still in motion. The through ball found Hume who ran towards the penalty area and sent the ball past Amrinder.

Poor control of proceedings by referee Pranjal Banerjee hurt the hosts when he allowed the goal to stand.

A lobbed delivery found Thiago inside the box towards the end of the first half and as Brown failed to clear the danger, the 22-year-old striker’s shot was well saved by Subashish Roy Chowdhury.

The start of the second half saw Mumbai have a chance in the 47th minute to equalize. Lalruathara cleared the ball off the line from a shot from Balwant Singh. Three minutes later, Balwant sent a ball into the path of Achille Emana who found the net in an offside position.

Kerala Blasters had a golden chance to double their lead in the 65th minute when Courage Pekuson pounced on a counter-attack. The Ghanaian midfielder opted to shoot rather than place the ball at an unmarked CK Vineeth to his right and ended up sending the ball over the crossbar.

Both teams failed to capitalize on their chances in the final minutes of the match. Hume’s 81st-minute free-kick slipped under the Mumbai City wall and forced Amrinder to make a good save low to his left.

Leo Costa’s powerful strike from the edge of the box hit the woodwork just before the full-time whistle as Kerala Blasters collected all three points in Mumbai.