Kerala Blasters FC news: Leaders KBFC face defending champions Mumbai City FC

Ivan Vukomanovic’s side are on an impressive 10-game unbeaten run that sees them occupying the top spot in the Indian Super League (ISL) points table with 20 points.

Kerala Blasters FC are placed at the top of ISL points table; Credit: Twitter/@KeralaBlasters
By Sreejith C R | Jan 15, 2022 | 3 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

The last time Kerala Blasters FC played Mumbai City FC, the team from Kochi put three goals past the Islanders without reply. Ivan Vukomanovic’s side are on an impressive 10-game unbeaten run that sees them occupying the top spot in the Indian Super League (ISL) points table with 20 points. The two-time finalists will be hoping to extend their lead at the summit when they take on defending champions at the Tilak Maidan on Sunday. Meanwhile Mumbai city are winless in five games.

The Blasters coach said his team would have to remain focussed. “We have realised no team will give us anything free in this league. We have to fight for that. In professional sport, the moment you think you are the best and start being arrogant, you are finished, you’re history. I can understand the emotion and euphoria the fans have but we need to stay focused and fight till the end,” said Vukomanovic on the eve of the tie.

Blasters look like a well oiled-machine and will be aiming to extend their unbeaten streak to 11 games in Vasco. Vukomanovic has done a fantastic job with the team. The defense is solid, having registered the most number of clean sheets (5) so far. The midfield consisting of Jeakson singh, Puitea, Adrian Luna and Sahal Abdul Samad are the backbone of the team. Sahal and Luna provide the creative spark while Jeakson and Puitea sit back and do the holding midfielders job allowing the full-backs to push forward.

Sahal is having a dream season, having netted four times. While Luna has registered six assists and sit at the joint top for most assists in the club’s history along with Jessel Carneiro and Josu Prieto. In the last match against Odisha FC, Blasters won the game 2-0 and the goals were scored by the full-backs, Nishu Kumar and Harmanjot Singh Khabra. That indicates the variety of goal scoring options Vukomanovic has at his disposal.

MCFC are winless in five games

Meanwhile Alvaro Vazquez and Jorge Diaz have scored a combined seven goals and their off-the-ball work has been impressive. Both of them put the pressure on opposition defenders with their relentless running and pressing. Vazquez often drops behind and makes space for Sahal to get inside the box. The Spanish forward scored a stunning goal when these two teams met last time.

On the other hand, Mumbai City would be hoping to end their winless streak. Placed fourth in the table with 17-points from 11 games and a win could get them back to the summit. Des Buckingham’s side have conceded 20 goals in 11 outings. They have suffered because of their leaky defense and the English coach would need to fix the back-line as soon as possible to get back on track.

Buckingham said he enjoyed watching Blasters play. “They are coached well by Ivan (Vukomanovic),” he said. “Adrian Luna always impresses me.”





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