Needing a win desperately to keep their play-off hopes alive, both Kerala Blasters and Mumbai City put up an attacking game in the first half of their ISL 6 match in Mumbai.
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The visitors were clearly the dominant side for the first 30 minutes, with wave after wave of attack troubling the Mumbai defence, which has conceded 12 goals so far—the second highest this season.
Kerala Blasters wasted a couple of corners in the early minutes of the game, but continued to press ahead with 4-4-1-1 formation, with Messi Bouli the lone striker. But the final ball was missing.
Messi almost gave the Blasters the lead, when, in the 25th minute, his acrobatic bicycle-kick was just about palmed away by Mumbai City goalkeeper Amrinder Singh.
From then on, the hosts started finding their feet, with Kerala Blasters's tormentor from last season, Modou Sougou leading Mumbai's forays. His dangerous cross in the 34th minute from the right was punched away just in time by Kerala custodian T.P. Rehenesh.
The Sougou-Amine Chermiti combine gave the visitors quite a scare in the 40th and 42nd minute, but some poor finishing kept the score tied at 0-0.
Mumbai have played six games so far, of which they have won one, drawn three and lost two. Kerala have also played six, won one, drawn two and lost three.
