Kerala Blasters 1-0 Mumbai City FC Highlights, Indian Super League: Peprah Goal Wins It For Tuskers; Islanders Not Assured Playoffs Berth Yet

The Indian Super League match will kick off at 7:30pm IST, and can be live streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India. It will be live telecast on the Asianet Plus, Sports 18 Khel and Star Sports 3 TV channels in India.

Here's how the two teams line up ahead of kick-off in Kochi:

The Blasters are attacking from right to left in the first half, and the Islanders from left to right. It is the Kochi-based side's last home game of the season, while for Mumbai City, there's a chance to confirm a playoffs berth with a draw (or better).

While the two teams lock horns, let's take a look at their head-to-head record in the league thus far. Kerala Blasters and Mumbai City FC have played 21 games, with Mumbai City winning on 10 instances and Kerala Blasters FC emerging victorious five times. Six games have produced draws.

Kerala Blasters' Mohammed Aimen and Mumbai City's Sahil Panwar have been handed yellow cards in 38 minutes of play thus far. The Blasters' winger was booked in the second minute for a rough challenge, while the Islanders' defender was booked in the 31st for a bad foul.

Not much to cheer for the neutral football lover in the first half, as the ball was passed around without much being done by way of chance creation. Perhaps the playoffs scenario has something to do with it - a draw will do it for the Islanders, while the Blasters are already out of reckoning. Nevertheless, here's hoping that the second half brings along a lot more thrills.

The Blasters are attacking from left to right, and the Islanders from right to left after the mid-game interval. The hosts earn a corner early in the second half, but nothing comes of it.

Well, well well. This is turning out to be far different from what the Islanders, or even the neutrals would have envisaged. A 52nd-minute goal from a tight angle by Kwame Peprah brings the Manjappada army and the match to life, and Mumbai City haven't found an equaliser since. 

That's it. The final whistle is blown, and Kerala Blasters pull off a 1-0 win at home courtesy Kwame Peprah's 52nd-minute strike. Mumbai City are unable to seal their playoffs spot tonight, but will have another bite of the cherry with their final league game at Bengaluru FC on March 11. As for the Blasters, they will end the season with an away game against Hyderabad FC on March 12.

Mumbai City FC and Odisha FC are the two teams fighting for the sixth and final playoffs spot in Indian Super League 2024-25. Both have 33 points, but while the Juggernauts have played all 24 league games, the Islanders still have their last match to go, against Bengaluru FC. A win or draw will thus seal the deal for Mumbai City, but a defeat would mean Odisha FC go through, as they have a superior goal difference (7 as against -1).