ISL 2025-26: Mumbai City FC defeats Inter Kashi to move to third place in the standings

Mumbai City FC held off a spirited second leg against Inter Kashi to register a 2-1 win in the Indian Super League 2025-26 at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Sunday dse45r.

The Islanders recorded their third win of the campaign and moved to third in the standings with 11 points, while Inter Kashi remained eighth with five points. Mumbai captain Lallianzuala Chhangte was named Player of the Match.

Mumbai dominated possession early on and kept the hosts under sustained pressure. Left winger Ayush Chhikara set up the first try in the fourth minute, but his close-range effort was comfortably saved by Inter Kashi goalkeeper Lluis Tarrés. Chhikara came close again in the 18th minute when he dragged a right-footed shot narrowly wide after being set up by Chhangte.

Jorge Ortiz also tried his luck from distance in the 20th minute, but shot over the bar. Inter Kashi struggled to create clear chances early on, although Sumeet Passi attempted a shot from outside the penalty area in the 22nd minute, which was blocked by the Mumbai defense.

Despite Mumbai’s dominance in possession, Inter Kashi remained organized at the back and looked to threaten on the counter. Javi Llamas forced a save from Mumbai goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa in the 42nd minute with a strike from the right.

The breakthrough came deep into stoppage time in the first half. From a corner kick from Chhangte, midfielder Noufal PN pushed the ball into the goal and gave Mumbai City FC a small lead during the break.

Inter Kashi started the second half with renewed effort and found the equalizer soon after the restart. In the 51st minute, Sandip Mandi produced an inviting cross from the left flank, which Rohit Danu met with a header from close range to make it 1-1.

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However, the visitor responded immediately. Just a minute later, Ortiz lofted a through ball from the left into the penalty area for Chhangte, who calmly finished with his left foot to restore Mumbai’s lead in the 52nd minute.

The match then started as both sides pushed forward in search of further goals. Domantas Petkevičius tested Lachenpa with a close-range effort before Danu attempted a long-range strike that forced another save from the Mumbai goalkeeper. Noufal also threatened at the other end, but saw his shot rejected by Tarrés.

Inter Kashi continued to push for another equalizer. Petkevičius shot wide from distance in the 58th minute, while Llamas headed narrowly wide of the goal in the 67th minute after a cross from Danu.

Mumbai were reduced to ten men deep into stoppage time when Hmingthanmawia Ralte was shown a red card. Inter Kashi moved forward in the closing moments, with midfielder Wayne Vaz forcing a crucial save from Lachenpaa.

Despite sustained late pressure and hitting the crossbar twice in the final minutes, Inter Kashi failed to find an equalizer as Mumbai City FC held on to secure a 2–1 victory.

Published on March 15, 2026