Kerala Blasters picked up the first win of the ISL season against Mumbai City FC, who had so far were among the two teams to have not lost a game this season. The Yellow Brigade, playing in front of their home fans started the game really well, pinning the Mumbai midfield at the edge of their own box.
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The Blasters though weren’t able to make the breakthrough despite waves and waves of pressure, on account of some poor finishing. The breakthrough finally came in the 58th minute via Michael Chopra who kept his composure to slot home after a fortuitous deflection. The Blasters held on despite some late pressure from the Mumbai outfit, who just didn’t seem to have enough on the day.
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Here are main talking points from the game
#1 Fast start by Kerala Blasters (finally)
Kerala fans ahead of the game would have been hoping and praying that their team fed off the energy from the stands and started the game better. Against NorthEast United and Atletico de Kolkata they started the game poorly and needed the second half to get a foothold in the game.
Today though, they started the game like they meant it. Fast, incisive and industrious, they attacked the Mumbai City FC backline in waves. Each and every player was involved, and the full-backs were playing as wingers, Mehtab Hossain was calling the shots and Belfort was attacking players.
They might not have got the goal to show for their performance in the first half, but on another day, Rafi might have just buried one of those headers he always looks likely to head over.
#2 Kerala has truly the best fans in the Indian Super League
There might be a lot of debate about this, even us, in-house were torn between Atletico de Kolkata and Kerala Blasters. But, ISL 3 has put those notions to bed, and considerably so.
Whichever team you support, whichever state in India you are from, you’re not a football fan if you don’t want to be in that Stadium. When Michael Chopra scored his goal, the stadium was literally shaking, even the cameraman was dancing.
A football-crazy state, parched by the lack of football, they just needed a team to support. ISL gave them that, and they have embraced it with all their heart. The way the fans jumped and celebrated at the final whistle you couldn’t help but draw comparisons to the famous yellow wall of Dortmund.
#3 Mumbai City’s tactic of sitting back should be re-evaluated
The decision of Mumbai City to sit back and soak up the pressure was a curious one. It didn’t work for them in the second half against Kolkata and neither did it work today. They might have kept NorthEast at bay and pinched a winner, but it is definitely not playing to the team’s strengths.
Their best player Defederico was isolated up top, and Haokip and Leo Costa were constantly in their own half defending. When Defederico saw the ball, he was either crowded out or had to wait too long for others to join him.
Mumbai have a wealth of attacking talents, including the ones that came off the bench today. Jackichand and Sony Norde, on their day, can tear apart any defence in the League, therefore, it is completely unnecessary for Mumbai to sit back and wait for the other team to make a mistake when they can force one out of them.
#4 Michael Chopra keeps dividing opinion
Michael Chopra finally got his first goal in the Indian Super League. It was a long wait, and judging by his celebration, he wanted it desperately too. Against Mumbai City, he finally played like he cared, and it showed in his movement off the ball.
That is one narrative. The other one is of an overweight footballer, past his prime, slow on the turn and often slowing down Kerala’s attacks in the final third. Would Kerala Blasters have signed him if he didn’t have Indian roots and his blond hair? Debatable, very much so.
He also did a Ronaldo on the touchline, urging the players on after he was substituted. Well, not getting booed off helps.
#5 Mumbai are missing too many key players
Diego Forlan, Amrinder Singh, Sunil Chhetri and Pronay Halder. This is the bevvy of names missing from the Mumbai City lineup for varying range of reasons. Each of them game changers in their own right.
You can pick and identify the areas Mumbai need reinforcements. Haokip and Defederico did a great job in the first half against Atletico de Kolkata in playing the false number nine positions, but you can fit squared pegs in round holes for as long.
In the middle of the park, they definitely missed the robust presence of Pronay Halder, as Kerala overran the midfield in multiple occasions in the first half. Sony Norde’s impact when he came on advertised his importance, a problem easily solvable if your goalkeeper is Indian. (read Amrinder Singh).
Get those players back, and they might be the best team (on paper at least).
