Mumbai City FC extended their unbeaten run with a 2-0 win over Kerala Blasters in their Indian Super League (ISL) clash at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Friday.
The Islanders rode on first-half strikes from Mehtab Singh and Jorge Diaz to seal the win, while Kerala Blasters slipped to their third successive loss after winning the ISL-opener earlier this month.
Blasters coach Ivan Vukomanovic made two changes to his side as Victor Mongil and Rahul Kannoly replaced Ruivah Hormipam and Ivan Kaliuzhnyi respectively. Mumbai City made just the one change with Diaz returning to the starting XI in place of Alberto Noguera.
Mumbai City went ahead in the 21st minute when the hosts failed to clear a corner and the ball fell kindly for Mehtab. The defender put his boot through the ball and rifled it into the back of the net to score his second ISL goal.
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Ten minutes later, a defensive lapse from Marko Leskovic allowed Diaz to go one-on-one with the 'keeper. The Argentine kept his composure before scoring against his former club as the visitors doubled their advantage.
The Mumbai City defence was alert to keep the Blasters' forwards at bay. Sahal Abdul Samad's strike from a tight angle was saved by Phurba Lachenpa before Rahul KP's tame volley went wide in the 33rd minute. Three minutes later, a powerful swerving free-kick effort from Adrian Luna was parried to safety by Lachenpa.
Kerala Blasters upped the ante in the second half and played deep inside the oppostion half as the Mumbai City defence withstood a barrage of attacks. Dimitrios Diamantakos' low shot was palmed away by the 'keeper before Jeakson Singh's header from the resulting corner floated inches wide in the 57th minute.
As the game inched towards the final quarter, Luna's effort from inside the box hit the post before landing at the feet of Jessel Carneiro. The full-back adjusted his footing and played the ball across the goal to Rahul, who failed to find the target. The Blasters had a few more chances, but lacked the finishing touches.
The win sees Mumbai City move to the second spot on the table with two wins and two draws after four games, while Kerala Blasters remain ninth with just one win in four games.