Mumbai City FC registered a commanding 4-0 win against Kerala Blasters to move to the top of the Indian Super League table here on Sunday.
The win brought an end to Kerala Blasters' eight-match unbeaten run and vaulted Mumbai City FC back to the top of the table, as they brought up a league record eight wins in a row.
The visitors tried to keep pace with Mumbai City FC for the opening ten minutes of the game, but couldn't keep Mumbai City FC's relentless frontline at bay.
In the fourth minute, Bipin Singh received a long ball from the back on the wings and played a one-two with Greg Stewart to break into the box. His shot was saved by Prabhsukhan Gill, but the deflection fell in the path of Jorge Diaz who swept the ball home for the first of his two goals.
Some close tackles ensued in midfield immediately after but just as the Blasters seemed to have lifted themselves, Stewart was on hand to deflate them in the 10th minute.
This time it was Lallianzuala Chhangte who received a long diagonal pass on the opposite wing, before floating it into the box for Stewart, who got to the ball before Gill to nod it home.
Before the Blasters could regroup, another long ball split their defence. Mehtab Singh found Diaz's run in the channels, and the striker held it up in the box before cutting it back for Bipin on the left. The winger took his time before curling the ball into the top left corner.
Diaz then put the fixture to bed in the 22nd minute, running onto a through ball from Ahmed Jahouh and finding the net via a deflection off Victor Mongil.
Kerala Blasters' commitment to attack meant the fixture seemed to have gotten away from them before they could react.
The result comes as a strong statement from Mumbai City FC in the title race, with the Blasters being the most in-form team alongside them this season coming into the match.