Kerala Blasters FC interim head coach TG Purushothaman shared his pleasure after securing a narrow win over Mumbai City FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Friday.

Kwame Peprah scored the solitary goal in the second half with a bullet strike from a narrow-angle inside the box. With that, the Blasters have won each of their last two home games against the Islanders in the league for the first time.

Kerala Blasters FC generated several attacking moves, especially in the second half, with Peprah, Noah Sadaoui, and others. Despite the Islanders also creating a fair number of chances in both halves, their efforts were either denied by the woodwork or thwarted by the Blasters’ resilient defensive line.

Purushothaman acknowledged Mumbai City FC’s midfield strength in build-up play and ball rotation. However, he believed his team executed their game plan perfectly to nullify the Islanders’ attacking threat.

“Actually, we know that the strength of Mumbai City FC has been their midfield. So, we had to dominate the midfield,” he said in the post-match press conference.

“We have given the space in the first half for them to play. So, in the second half, we thought to make it a compact midfield, like bringing Luna into a number 10 position again. And it worked. Whatever we planned, we got it today,” he added.

Despite Kerala Blasters FC having only 40.6% possession, the hosts were effective in winning duels and disrupting the opponents’ attacks with crucial interceptions. They registered eight interceptions, double that of Mumbai City FC’s four.

Purushothaman commended his players’ fighting spirit but urged them to improve their game, especially in the opponent’s half.

“Obviously, since this is our home match, we have to win all the duels, all the 50-50 balls. Because we have to dominate the game. We have to be more accurate in passing and playing in the opponent's half,” he remarked.

“We have to play in the opponent's half, keeping the ball in the opponent's half. We have to create more chances and finish. That's it,” he further added.

The Blasters struggled with finishing in the first half, but the home side showed a marked improvement after the break, securing their eighth victory of the season.

When asked about the halftime message and the strategic adjustments made in the second half, Purushothaman answered, “No, (we've made) just small tactical changes regarding dominating the midfield and playing forward in the opponent's half. Nothing to tell these guys because we have a quality side."

“All the credit goes to the players; they are top-class quality players. Hopefully, we will come up with good colours in the last match and (next) focus on the Super Cup,” Purushothaman signed off on a positive note.

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Kerala Blasters FCMumbai City FC2024-2025Purushothaman TG