Kochi, February 22 Lallianzuala Chhangte's early goal in the second half proved decisive as Mumbai City FC defeated Kerala Blasters FC 1-0 in an Indian Super League match here on Sunday.
Mumbai City now has six points from two matches, while Kerala Blasters are still without a win.
Chhangte's goal came in the 48th minute. Earlier, Jorge Pereyra Diaz had missed a penalty in the first half, leaving the two teams tied at 0-0 at halftime. Chhangte was awarded the Man of the Match award.
David Catala made four changes to his starting lineup, giving Arsh Anwer Shaikh a start in goal in place of Sachin Suresh, while Sandeep Singh, Marlon Roos Trujillo, and Naocha Singh replaced Muhammed Saheef, Aiban Dohling, and Ebindas Yesudas.
Petr Kratky made a single change, with Vikram Partap Singh coming in for the injured Jorge Ortiz.
Both goalkeepers were called into action in an open start that set the tone for the match. Victor Bertomeu forced a save from Phurba Lachenpa at his near post after being released by Korou Singh's lofted pass.
The Spanish forward later glanced a header over the bar from another Korou delivery, before Chhangte tested the Kerala Blasters goalkeeper at the other end.
Jorge Diaz won a penalty in the 30th minute after being brought down by Danish Farooq. The Argentine stepped up to take it himself, but Arsh Anwer Shaikh, who was making his first ISL appearance in over three years, guessed correctly, diving low to his right to palm the effort away to safety.
Kerala Blasters introduced Vibin Mohanan and Kevin Yoke at the start of the second half, while Mumbai City replaced Sahil Panwar, who was on a yellow card, with Bijay Chhetri.
The visitors struck just three minutes after the restart. Brandon Fernandes' overhead kick dropped to B Lalnuntluanga on the edge of the area, and his long-range effort took a deflection off Oumar Ba before falling kindly to Chhangte, who calmly slotted past the goalkeeper to open his account for the season.
Mumbai City then took control of the match, slowing the tempo and inviting the home side to commit numbers forward.
Kerala Blasters head coach responded with further changes, but the hosts struggled to create any clear-cut openings to test the opposition goalkeeper. A lack of movement in the final third made it increasingly difficult for them to unsettle the Mumbai City defence.
Kerala Blasters came close to finding a late equaliser in the closing minutes, with substitute Muhammad Ajsal and Bertomeu both seeing their headers drift agonisingly wide after taking slight deflections off defenders.
In the end, Mumbai City held firm to protect their slender one-goal advantage and secure their second consecutive win of the season.