Mohun Bagan Super Giant on Sunday grew to become the primary workforce in Indian Super League (ISL) historical past to defend the title with a 1-0 win over Odisha FC with Dimitrios Petratos scoring the all-important aim within the added time in a dramatic match. Australian ahead Petratos (90 third) struck within the third minute of the added time in entrance of ecstatic dwelling supporters on the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium. By advantage of clinching the ISL Shield, MBSG additionally booked a berth within the AFC Champions League 2, the continent’s second tier membership competitors. They retained the League Shield they’d received within the 2023-24 season.
After the win of their twenty second league recreation, Mohun Bagan Super Giant secured 52 factors and emerged Shield Winners with two matches to spare.
Their nearest rivals, FC Goa, have collected 42 factors from 21 matches, they usually can’t catch MBSG even when they win all their remaining three matches.
The Jose Molina-coached workforce has notched 16 victories and 4 attracts, and suffered solely two losses.
After a cagey begin, Odisha FC discovered their first opening within the Mohun Bagan Super Giant defensive third from the within channel of the suitable flank. Hugo Boumous unlocked the Mariners’ defence with a by ball that met Rahul KP completely at shut vary.
Rahul rushed into the hassle although and went for a robust shot, as an alternative of making an attempt to fit the ball into the web. As a consequence, he was unable to even land the ball on course within the nineteenth minute.
Lalengmawia Ralte, who has been an engine on the centre of the park for the Mariners, confirmed that he possesses some offensive chew too as he regarded to cap off a Mohun Bagan Super Giant attacking endeavour with a neat cross to Jamie Maclaren on the suitable facet of the 18-yard field within the thirty first minute.
Unlike Rahul, Maclaren might direct his shot on course but it surely was saved and as an alternative diverted for a nook by Odisha FC goalkeeper Amrinder Singh.
Amrinder was stored busy because the dynamic dwelling facet frontline joined fingers to check him between the posts. Greg Stewart did properly to halt an Odisha FC defensive build-up by recovering possession within the center on the fringe of the field and hurled in a fast shot aimed for the underside left nook, which was thwarted off by the visiting custodian.
Maclaren was positioned completely to pounce upon the rebound and he tried to drill the ball previous the goal-line from a slender angle on proper, however Amrinder adjusted and instantly acquired his hand to the tip of the ball close to the half-time whistle.
Stewart stored probing the Juggernauts within the second half of the match too. In the sixtieth minute mark, he thundered into the Odisha FC field and laid up a cross for Manvir Singh on the centre. Manvir could not maintain the road of the cross delivered to him and as an alternative misplaced it down the suitable facet to squander a promising goal-scoring likelihood.
Petratos made an formidable effort from exterior of the 18-yard field within the 82nd minute, however Amrinder continued to be strong and blocked the hassle in time.
The match decisively shifted within the favour of the house workforce proper afterwards, as Mourtada Fall tripped and fouled Maclaren close to the Odisha FC field, getting despatched off and lowering the guests to 10 males.
Petratos stayed within the hunt for the winner even within the added time and finally sealed the sport, in addition to the championship, for the Mariners with a robust and exact shot from exterior the field, which rattled the underside left nook of the aim.
