Sports: Kolkata erupted in a frenzy of green and maroon as Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) secured the Indian Super League (ISL) Cup, triumphing over Bengaluru FC with a hard-fought 2-1 victory in a captivating final held at the Salt Lake Stadium today, April 13th.
This momentous win sealed a remarkable ISL double for the Kolkata giants, adding the coveted Cup to the League Winners’ Shield they had already secured earlier in the season.
The first half of the high-stakes encounter remained locked in a stalemate, with both sides displaying tactical discipline and creating sporadic chances. The deadlock was finally broken in the 49th minute when Bengaluru FC took an unexpected lead through an own goal by Mohun Bagan’s Alberto Rodríguez.
However, Mohun Bagan demonstrated resilience as their prolific striker, Jason Cummings, calmly slotted home a penalty in the 72nd minute, bringing the score level and igniting the passionate home crowd.
As the regulation time concluded without a further breakthrough, the tension inside the stadium was palpable as the match proceeded into extra time. It was Jamie Maclaren who emerged as the hero for Mohun Bagan, netting the decisive goal just six minutes into the extra period (96th minute). His clinical strike sent waves of euphoria through the stands, confirming a memorable triumph for the home side.
With this victory, Mohun Bagan Super Giant etched their name in ISL history, becoming only the second team to achieve the distinction of winning both the League Winners’ Shield and the ISL Cup in the same season.
Mumbai City was the first to accomplish this feat back in the 2020-21 season. The League Winners’ Shield is awarded to the team that finishes at the top of the points table after the round-robin stage, where Mohun Bagan had demonstrated their dominance by securing 56 points from 24 matches, also earning them a coveted spot in the AFC Champions League 2.
The journey to the ISL Cup culminated in a thrilling knockout stage involving the top six teams from the league phase. Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru FC navigated their respective semifinals to set up today’s electrifying summit clash. The vociferous support of the home fans in Kolkata undoubtedly played a crucial role in Mohun Bagan’s spirited performance.
Early in the game, Jamie Maclaren threatened the Bengaluru FC goal with a right-footed shot that was expertly saved by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. Anirudh Thapa also made a dangerous foray into the box, but his shot was blocked. Bengaluru FC responded with their own attacking spells, with Alberto Noguera providing a cross for Sunil Chhetri, who couldn’t capitalize, and Edgar Mendez’s header being saved by Vishal Kaith.
The breakthrough for Bengaluru FC arrived when Williams delivered a dangerous cross from the right flank, intended for Mendez. Subhasish Bose couldn’t effectively mark Williams, and under pressure, Alberto Rodriguez inadvertently directed the ball into his own net. However, Mohun Bagan fought back, with Bose recovering possession and finding Cummings, whose shot was saved by Sandhu.
The pivotal moment arrived when Chinglensana Singh was penalized for a handball, allowing Cummings to equalize from the penalty spot. Late attempts in regulation time from Ashique Kuruniyan and Tom Aldred went wide, setting the stage for Maclaren’s extra-time winner, which sparked jubilant celebrations and etched Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s name in ISL folklore.
Read More: Power Disruptions Loom Over Three Sikkim Districts Due to Crucial Infrastructure Upgrade