Mumbai City FC clinched the final spot in the AIFF Super Cup 2025-26 semifinals on Thursday, defeating Kerala Blasters FC 1-0 in the Group D decider at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. It was heartbreak for the Blasters, who needed only a draw to progress but crashed out of the competition following a late own goal. Mumbai City FC now advances to face FC Goa in a West Coast derby semifinal on December 4.
The match was a thrilling end-to-end affair, with the stakes visible to both teams. Kerala Blasters started aggressively, with early chances falling to Tiago Alves and Koldo Obieta, the latter forcing a save from Mumbai City goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa. The game's turning point came just before halftime when Blasters defender Sandeep Singh was shown a second yellow card for pulling back Vikram Partap Singh, leaving the Blasters to face the entire second half with only ten men.
Despite being a man down, the Blasters maintained a solid defense and were determined to hold on for the necessary draw. However, the deadlock was broken in the most unfortunate fashion in the 88th minute. A cross from Jorge Pereyra Diaz deflected off Blasters defender Freddy Lallawmawma, trickling past goalkeeper Nora Fernandes and into the net. This allowed the Islanders to leapfrog the Blasters on a superior head-to-head record after both teams finished Group D with six points each.
Mumbai City FC's win sets up the semifinal clash against FC Goa, continuing their campaign for the domestic trophy. For Kerala Blasters, whose best-ever finish was the quarterfinal loss in the last edition, the late own goal will be a bitter pill to swallow, marking an abrupt end to their hopes in the 2025-26 AIFF Super Cup.
