Lallianzuala Chhangte’s early second-half strike proved decisive as Mumbai City FC edged previous Kerala Blasters FC 1–0 in Match 12 of the Indian Super League 2025-26 season on the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Kerala Blasters FC – 0
Mumbai City FC – 1 (Lallianzuala Chhangte 48’)
Kochi, Sunday, February 22, 2026: Lallianzuala Chhangte’s early second-half strike proved decisive as Mumbai City FC edged previous Kerala Blasters FC 1–0 in Match 12 of the Indian Super League 2025-26 season on the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The Islanders provisionally moved into third place with six factors from two matches, whereas Kerala Blasters are but to open their account this marketing campaign.
Chhangte’s decisive strike arrived within the forty eighth minute. Earlier, Jorge Pereyra Díaz had missed from the penalty spot within the first half, as the 2 sides went into the interval deadlocked at 0-0. Chhangte obtained the Player of the Match award.
David Català made 4 adjustments to his beginning line-up, handing Arsh Anwer Shaikh a begin in purpose rather than Sachin Suresh, whereas Sandeep Singh, Marlon Roos Trujillo and Naocha Singh changed Muhammed Saheef, Aiban Dohling and Ebindas Yesudas. Petr Kratky, in the meantime, made a solitary alteration, with Vikram Partap Singh coming in for the injured Jorge Ortiz.
Both goalkeepers have been referred to as into motion in an open begin that set the tone for the competition. Víctor Bertomeu compelled a pointy save from Phurba Lachenpa at his close to publish after being launched by Korou Singh’s lofted move. The Spanish ahead later glanced a header over the bar from one other Korou supply, earlier than Lallianzuala Chhangte examined the Kerala Blasters goalkeeper on the different finish.
Jorge Pereyra Díaz received a penalty on the half-hour mark after being introduced down by Danish Farooq. The Argentine stepped as much as take it himself, however Arsh Anwer Shaikh, who was making his first ISL look in over three years, guessed accurately, diving low to his proper to palm the trouble away to security.
Kerala Blasters launched Vibin Mohanan and Kevin Yoke at first of the second half, whereas Mumbai City changed Sahil Panwar, who was on a yellow card, with Bijay Chhetri.
The guests struck simply three minutes after the restart. Brandon Fernandes’ overhead kick dropped to B. Lalnuntluanga on the sting of the realm, and his long-range effort took a deflection off Oumar Ba earlier than falling kindly to Chhangte, who calmly slotted previous the goalkeeper to open his account for the season.
The Islanders then took the sting out of the competition, slowing the tempo and alluring the house aspect to commit numbers ahead. Kerala Blasters head coach responded with additional adjustments, however the hosts struggled to carve out any clear-cut openings to check the opposition goalkeeper. An absence of motion within the remaining third made it more and more tough for them to unsettle the Mumbai City defence.
Kerala Blasters went near discovering a late equaliser within the closing minutes, with substitute Muhammad Ajsal and Víctor Bertomeu each seeing their headers drift agonisingly vast after taking slight deflections off defenders. In the top, Mumbai City held agency to guard their slender one-goal benefit and safe their second consecutive win of the season.
