Kalinga Super Cup 2025: Mumbai City FC delivered a commanding performance to book their place in the Kalinga Super Cup quarter-finals, sweeping aside a lacklustre Chennaiyin FC 4-0, led by a sensational brace from skipper Lallianzuala Chhangte.
Coming off the back of a demoralizing ISL knockout exit, the Islanders responded with hunger and flair. From kickoff, Mumbai asserted dominance, with their attacking trio of Chhangte, Nikolaos Karelis, and Jorge Ortiz crafting openings through sharp movement and incisive link-up play.
Chhangte nearly broke the deadlock early, rattling the post with a left-footed effort after dancing past his marker. Chennaiyin’s best moment came controversially, when Daniel Chima Chukwu was seemingly fouled in the box, but the referee remained unmoved.
Mumbai’s pressure told just before the break. In the 43rd minute, a loose clearance from a corner allowed Hitesh Sharma to recycle the ball into the danger area, where Karelis nodded in confidently, giving his side a deserved 1-0 lead at halftime.
After the restart, Chennaiyin had a golden chance to equalize through Lukas Brambilla, who rounded TP Rehenesh but was denied by a brilliant Mehtab Singh clearance off the line. That proved a pivotal moment.
Moments later, Ortiz sliced through Chennaiyin’s defence again. His low cross-shot was turned home at the far post by Chhangte in the 64th minute, doubling the lead. The captain wasn’t done yet. In the 86th minute, Ortiz once more turned provider with a stylish flick that set Chhangte free. The winger cut inside and curled a crisp low shot beyond the keeper to make it 3-0.
In stoppage time, Chhangte added an assist to his night’s work, scooping a clever ball into the path of substitute Bipin Singh, who finished calmly to round off a dominant display.
Chhangte’s two goals and an assist earned him the Kalinga Player of the Match award, as Mumbai City FC look to carry this momentum deeper into the tournament. For Chennaiyin FC, the defeat marked a forgettable end to a difficult season.