Durand Cup 2024: Kerala Blasters FC seal an emphatic 8-0 win over Mumbai City FC
Sadaoui, Peprah, and Pandita lead the way as the Blasters deliver a powerful performance in their opening Durand Cup fixture against Mumbai City FC’s reserves.

Debutant Noah Sadaoui and Kwame Peprah each scored a hat-trick as Kerala Blasters FC delivered a scintillating performance to beat Mumbai City FC in their opening fixture of the 2024 Durand Cup at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Thursday. Substitute Ishan Pandita added two goals in the final minutes to complete their commanding victory.
With this win, Kerala Blasters FC equalled the record for the most goals scored in a single game, matching the previous eight-goal victory achieved by Highland Light Infantry in 1889, when they defeated Shimla Rifles in the finals of the second edition.
Mikael Stahre named a strong lineup for his first official match as the head coach of Kerala Blasters FC against an inexperienced Mumbai City side comprising players from their academy and reserve side under the guidance of Mohan Suresh Daas. Noah Sadaoui, Adrian Luna and Kwame Peprah led the attack while Millos Drincic along with Hormipam Ruivah manned the defence.
A thumping performance from @KeralaBlasters to kickstart their #DurandCup2024 campaign! ☄️🟡
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) August 1, 2024
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It took 31 minutes for Kerala Blasters to open the floodgates against an inexperienced Mumbai City side in a match they completely dominated from the very first minute, having 13 attempts on goal in the first half. The trio of Sadaoui, Luna and Peprah were in full song as the young Mumbai City FC defenders looked clueless against the quality of the attackers. The opening goal would have come earlier if not for the brilliant goal-line clearance by Mohammed Kaif and a disallowed goal by Peprah.
Right-back Aibhan Dohling’s cross was perfectly met by Sadaoui and the Moroccan striker’s volley rested in the right corner beyond the Mumbai goalkeeper to give Blasters the lead in the 31st minute. Sadaoui missed a golden opportunity to double the lead but the striker hit the crossbar with his effort. Luna set up the second goal as he threaded through the ball to Peprah tearing the Mumbai City backline apart as Peprah finished with ease in the bottom-right corner. The Ghanaian doubled his tally after six minutes finishing expertly on the rebound from a save by the goalkeeper from a header by Captain Luna.
Sadaoui also completed his double as the Blasters continued their dominance into the second half. Mohammed Aimen's cross from the right wing on the far post was headed in by Sadaoui with ease. Peprah completed his hat-trick after three minutes as the striker received a pass from Danish Farooq and a powerful finish past the keeper found the net for the first hat-trick of this year’s tournament.
The Moroccan forward also eventually completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute. Substitute Yoihenba Meeitei made an impact straight away as he played the ball to an unmarked Sadaoui who used the time and space to finish brilliantly for his third and the sixth of the game for the Blasters.
Ishan Pandita who came in for Peprah scored two goals in the space of two minutes to round off a dominant evening. The Indian international made full use of a mix-up between the Mumbai keeper and the defender and slotted the loose ball into the net with ease. Kerala Blasters FC won the ball back quickly soon after the restart and Pandita received the ball inside the box which the striker finished into the top right corner to round up an impressive night for the Blasters.
Kerala Blasters FC will play Punjab FC in their next fixture on Sunday, while Mumbai City FC will face the CISF Protectors the following day.