Action from the MCFC-KBFC match.
| Photo Credit: Instagram@mumbaicityfc
An 88th-minute own goal by Freddy Lallawmawma knocked Kerala Blasters FC(KBFC) out while Mumbai City FC (MCFC) bagged the final spot in the AIFF Super Cup semifinals at the PJN Stadium here on Thursday.
Unlike MCFC’s previous cagey clash against Rajasthan United (RUFC), this match was mostly end-to-end, with KBFC dictating the attack early on.
Tiago Alves came close to scoring in the fifth minute when he got a through pass from Koldo Obieta, but his right-footed shot failed to find enough curl.
Five minutes later, Alves set up Obieta, forcing a save by MCFC custodian Phurba Lachenpa.
MCFC’s first chance came in the 23rd minute when Jorge Ortiz took a left-footed hit from distance, forcing an acrobatic save by Nora Fernandes.
KBFC was reduced to 10 men seconds before half-time when Sandeep Singh pulled Vikram Partap Singh back along the left flank.
In the second half, KBFC came close to scoring within seven minutes when Obieta’s header fell for Dusan Lagator, but Jose Tiri cleared it at the last minute.
Fatal error
Ten minutes from time, as it stood, a draw meant KBFC would qualify.
But a late defensive error turned the match on its head: Jorge Pereyra Diaz’s cross for Ortiz was intercepted by Freddy, but the ball rolled into the net with Nora caught ball-watching.
MCFC will meet FC Goa in the semifinals here on December 4.
Earlier in the day, Sporting Club Delhi earned its first point before bowing out, holding RUFC 2-2 and ending the I-League club’s semifinal aspirations, at the GMC Athletic Stadium in Bambolim.
Pedro Astray and Robinson Blandon scored for RUFC in the first half before Sourav and Alan Saji restored parity for the newly-found Indian Super League club.
The results: Rajasthan United FC 2 (Astray 22, Blandón 35) drew with Sporting Club Delhi 2 (Sourav 61, Alan 90+4).
Mumbai City FC 1 (Freddy 88-og) bt Kerala Blasters FC 0.
Published – November 06, 2025 10:31 pm IST
