Kolkata: Noah Sadaoui and Kwame Peprah scored hat-tricks as Kerala Blasters FC thrashed Mumbai City FC 8-0 in their opening match of the Durand Cup here on Thursday.

New signing Noah put Blasters ahead in the 32nd minute. Peprah doubled the lead in the 39th and made it 3-0 on the stroke of half-time by scoring his second of the night. It got even better for Blasters in the second half as they pumped in five more goals. Ishan Pandita scored a brace for the Yellow Brigade.

Punjab FC had beaten CISF Protectors 3-0 in the opening Group C match. Both Blasters and Punjab have three points each. The two teams will lock horns on Sunday.

The top two sides will progress to the knockout stage.

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