Kochi: Tunisian striker Amine Chermiti did the star turn for Mumbai City FC on his Indian Super League (ISL) debut as his late strike helped the visitors edge Kerala Blasters 1-0 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Thursday. Chermiti, who threatened in the first half, made it count in the 82nd-minute as he latched on to a cross by Souvik Chakrabarti when it looked the match will end in a goalless draw.
Blasters captain Bartholomew Ogbeche almost produced an equaliser in injury time, but was denied by the brilliance of Amrinder Singh in the Mumbai goal.
Mumbai picked up three points from their opener, while Blasters remained on three points from two games. Blasters next meet Hyderabad FC in their first away match on November 2.
Blasters, who beat ATK 2-1 in their first game, started off aggressively, but K Prasanth’s attempt at glory ended rather tamely in the opening minute.
Debatable decision
Mumbai adopted an attacking game. Chermiti was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty after he was pushed by defender Gianni Zuiverloon in the fifth minute.
Another Tunisian Mohamed Larbi, also playing his first ISL game, headed wide in the 10th minute as Blasters survived an early onslaught.
It was left to Ogbeche to make the sporadic forays as Mumbai dominated the early proceedings.
Ogbeche, who scored two goals against ATK, came up with a diving header off a free-kick in the 25th minute only to see it miss the mark narrowly.
Zuiverloon made a vital clearance off a cross by Diego Carlos in the 36th minute.
Mumbai defender Mato Grgic brought down an advancing Halicharan Narzary in the 42nd and was booked. Mumbai manager Jorge Costa made a couple of changes as he replaced Grgic with Pratik Chowdhary and brought in midfielder Modou Sougou in place of Paulo Machado.
Jairo Rodrigues’ header off the resultant free-kick was parried away by Amrinder for a corner kick. The Brazilian threatened again with a header off the corner kick, but Moustapha Gning could not keep his hand away from the flick on. The Senegalese picked up a yellow card as both teams went into the break on level terms.
Missed chance
Sougou squandered a golden chance to break the deadlock in the 56th as he shot wide off a beautiful pass by Larbi.
Blasters coach Eelco Schattorie made his first change of the night soon as he replaced Narzary with Keralite K P Rahul.
The teenager made an impression on his ISL debut as Mumbai defender Sarthak Golui had to resort to foul to end his fine run in the 61st minute.
Schattorie brought in Raphael Messi Bouli in place of Sergio Cindoncha in the 68th and Sahal Abdul Samad replaced K Prasanth 10 minutes later.
In the end, Chermiti dashed Blasters' hopes with his telling blow as Mumbai celebrated their maiden victory in Kochi.
