Mohun Bagan Super Giant secured a dominant 4-0 victory over Mohammedan SC in the Indian Super League 2024-25 season. The match took place at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Saturday. With this win, Mohun Bagan SG extended their lead at the top of the points table, now sitting 10 points ahead of second-placed FC Goa. While the Mariners have 43 points, FC Goa trails behind with 33. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Vishal Kaith made history by achieving his 50th ISL clean sheet, becoming the first player to reach this milestone.
Early Goals Set the Tone
Right from the start, Mohun Bagan SG displayed intense attacking intent. In the 12th minute, they found the breakthrough. Liston Colaco delivered a well-placed corner kick, which Mohammedan SC’s defenders initially cleared. However, Jamie Maclaren quickly regained possession and passed the ball to Dippendu Biswas, who took a shot. Subhasish Bose reacted swiftly and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Padam Chhetri. Notably, this was Bose’s fifth goal of the season, surpassing his combined tally from all previous seasons.
Just eight minutes later, Mohun Bagan SG doubled their lead. This time, Jason Cummings sent a precise corner to the near post. Before Padam Chhetri could react, Manvir Singh leaped highest and headed the ball into the net, making it 2-0.
Shortly after, the Mariners almost scored their third goal. Cummings, in a creative role, sprinted down the left flank and squared the ball to Maclaren. However, Florent Ogier made a timely interception to prevent the goal.
Mariners Dominate Before Halftime
As the game progressed, Mohammedan SC attempted to counterattack. After the drinks break, Carlos Franca made a few promising runs. However, Mohun Bagan SG’s backline remained firm and shut down any potential threats.
Nevertheless, Mohammedan SC soon found themselves in deeper trouble. In the 43rd minute, Mohun Bagan SG scored their third goal. Once again, Cummings delivered a well-placed free-kick. Maclaren smartly set up Subhasish Bose, who made no mistake and calmly slotted the ball into the net.
Just before halftime, Mohammedan SC had a rare opportunity to score. Mirjalol Kasimov sent in a corner, and Manvir Singh Saini reacted quickly with a powerful header. However, Vishal Kaith made an impressive save, tipping the ball over the bar.
Unfortunately for Mohammedan SC, things got worse in stoppage time. Frustrated, Kasimov recklessly kicked Tom Aldred, who was on the ground. The referee spotted the incident and immediately showed him a red card. As a result, Mohammedan SC had to play the entire second half with 10 men.
Second Half: Mariners Seal the Victory
As the second half began, Mohammedan SC attempted to pull one back. Alexis Gomez came close to scoring from a free-kick just outside the box, but his shot narrowly missed the target. Moments later, Cummings sent another dangerous free-kick into the box. This time, Chhetri fumbled the ball, allowing Manvir an opportunity. However, Mohammedan SC’s defenders quickly cleared the danger.
Soon after, Mohun Bagan SG put the game beyond doubt. In the 53rd minute, Manvir Singh scored again. Cummings sent an inch-perfect cross from the left flank, and Manvir rose above the defense to head the ball past Chhetri, extending the lead to 4-0.
Following this goal, head coach Jose Molina made substitutions to freshen up the squad. He introduced Dimitrios Petratos and Abhishek Suryavanshi, replacing Manvir and Sahal Abdul Samad. Meanwhile, Mohun Bagan SG continued to dictate the game, with Cummings orchestrating most of their attacking moves.
In the 74th minute, Petratos had a great chance to score. Liston Colaco delivered an accurate pass, allowing Petratos to unleash a strong shot. Although Padam Chhetri saved it, Maclaren pounced on the rebound. However, Ogier stepped up once again and made a crucial block.
Mariners Maintain Control and Secure Clean Sheet
Despite creating several more scoring opportunities, Mohun Bagan SG struggled to convert them. Nevertheless, they remained dominant and maintained full control of the match. Ultimately, they celebrated their 13th win of the season and recorded their 11th clean sheet.
Key Performances and Upcoming Matches
Jason Cummings played a vital role in the victory. He registered two assists, created six goal-scoring chances, made an interception and a tackle, and completed 11 of his 19 attempted passes.
Looking ahead, Mohammedan SC will face Hyderabad FC on February 8, while Mohun Bagan SG will take on Punjab FC on February 5.
