Mumbai City FC clinched a 2-1 victory over Kerala Blasters FC in their first home game of the season, maintaining their unbeaten record in the Indian Super League (ISL) after three rounds.
In a heated match, tempers flared on the field and in the dugouts, leading to 10 yellow cards and two straight red cards being issued by the referee. The game got particularly ugly in the final minutes, with a scuffle breaking out between players.
With 10 minutes of added time in the second half, a significant brawl erupted when Kerala's Milos Drincic shoved Mumbai's Mehtab Singh to the ground. Drincic and Yoell van Nieff were both shown red cards. While Mumbai secured all three points, the altercation marred the tournament's 10th season.
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Despite sultry conditions, fans flocked to the Mumbai Football Arena, with visiting supporters outnumbering the home fans. Notably, Nita Ambani and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach were in attendance, adding a high-profile atmosphere to the match.
On the pitch, the first half lacked excitement as both teams struggled to find their rhythm. The clearest chance came in the ninth minute when Mumbai's Diaz was denied by Blasters' goalkeeper Sachin Suresh.
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Mumbai took control around the half-hour mark, leading to Diaz's goal. Blasters, however, equalized in the second half when Danish Farooq scored. Mumbai quickly reclaimed the lead through Ralte, and the match ended with more pushing and shoving than quality play.
Kerala, previously unbeaten, slipped to fourth place on the points table, while Mumbai, with a win and a draw, climbed to second place. The match's intensity and drama were evident, leaving a lasting impression on the fans and spectators.
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