Kolkata: Mohun Bagan Super Giant secured their second consecutive Indian Super League (ISL) League Winners’ Shield after a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Odisha FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium on Sunday. With this triumph, the Mariners became the first team in ISL history to successfully defend their league title, finishing with an unassailable lead of 52 points, ten ahead of second-placed FC Goa, with three matches remaining in the season.
The Jose Molina-coached side delivered a dominant campaign, securing 16 victories and four draws, while registering an impressive six consecutive clean sheets, setting a new record for the most by a team in a single ISL season.
The match began on a cautious note, with Odisha FC creating the first real chance in the 19th minute when Hugo Boumous played a perfectly weighted through ball to Rahul KP inside the box. However, Rahul’s rushed attempt went off target, squandering a golden opportunity to put the visitors ahead.
Mohun Bagan responded in the 31st minute as Lalengmawia Ralte orchestrated an attack from midfield, setting up Jamie Maclaren on the right side of the box. Maclaren managed to get his shot on target, but Odisha FC goalkeeper Amrinder Singh made a fine save, pushing the ball away for a corner.
Amrinder was called into action again just before halftime when Greg Stewart intercepted an Odisha FC defensive buildup and fired a shot toward the bottom left corner. The Odisha custodian blocked it, but Maclaren latched onto the rebound and tried to slot it in from a tight angle, only to be denied again by Amrinder’s quick reflexes.
The second half saw Mohun Bagan pushing relentlessly for a breakthrough. In the 60th minute, Stewart charged into the box and squared the ball for Manvir Singh, but Manvir misjudged the pass and squandered a promising goal-scoring chance.
As the clock ticked down, Dimitrios Petratos took matters into his own hands, unleashing a long-range strike in the 82nd minute, but Amrinder once again stood tall. However, the game turned in Mohun Bagan’s favor when Mourtada Fall brought down Maclaren near the edge of the box, earning a red card and reducing Odisha FC to 10 men.
With the pressure mounting, Petratos delivered the decisive blow in stoppage time, firing a thunderous shot from outside the box that rattled the bottom left corner of the net, finally breaking Amrinder’s resistance and sealing Mohun Bagan’s title-winning victory.
With this historic achievement, Mohun Bagan Super Giant further solidified their dominance in the ISL, setting the stage for another deep run in the playoffs.
