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Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated Chennaiyin FC 1-0 to climb back to the top of the Indian Super League.
Jason Cummings for Mohun Bagan Super Giant (X)
Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated Chennaiyin FC 1-0 in the 2024-25 Indian Super League at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Saturday.
Substitute Jason Cummings scored the only goal of the match to help the Mariners got back top of the standings.
After weathering the opening blitz from the home side, Chennaiyin FC were the ones who got the first few real chances of the game.
A good spell of pressure around the 15-minute mark saw the Marina Machans use their strengths with Wilmar Jordan using his frame to shield long ball down for Connor Shields and Irfan Yadwad to run on to. Last ditch tackles and disciplined backline helped Mohun Bagan survive.
The pressure though was unrelenting as Mohun Bagan defenders back-pedaled and Dippendu Biswas and Subhasish Bose found themselves in the referee’s book.
With the clock ticking over the 38th minute mark, Liston Colaco decided to take it upon himself to create a bit of magic. Starting his run from let flank, he cut in-field and kept running. A powerful shot from the edge of the penalty box had to be somehow clawed out by Chennaiyin keeper Mohammed Nawaz.
The tide had turned. It was the home side’s turn to dominate and they did. Mostly through Liston. Bikash Yumnam and Ryan Adwards dug deep to bail their side as the Jamie Maclaren-Dimitrios Petratos failing to win the ball inside the box.
The first half ended without either side covering their chances.
At the restart, Joe Molina’s first order of business was to bring on Asish Rai in place of Dippendu.
A minute before the hour mark, Petratos was shown a yellow by the referee for showing his frustrations as either team looked to avoid being the one to make the mistake.
Manvir Singh too could not contain his frustrations and lashed out at the linesman for a decision he disagreed with. The referee promptly showed him a yellow card. Sahal Abdul Samad was introduced for Deepak Tangri.
Owen Coyles too opted for changes. Lukas Brambilla and Chima Chukwu came on in place of Elsinho and Wilmar.
After another yellow for Alberto Rodrigues for a ball sticking his hand, Jason Cummings and Ashique Kurunian In pace of Maclaren and Liston.
With the water break done, Irfan forced Vishal Kaith into an acrobatic save. Edwards too found himself in the referee’s book for a poor tackle.
The introduction of new faces injected a new-found pace and intent to the game. In the 83rd minute, Cummins’s snap shot after Manvir brought down a Subhasish cross was straight at Nawaz.
The last throw of the dice from the coaches saw Farukh Choudhary being replaced by Vincy Barretto and Greg Stewart coming in for Petratos.
Stewart’s impact was instantaneous as his shot rattles the cross bar. Barely seconds later he found Cummings with a dinked pass as the Aussie forward curled it into the top corner for the first goal of the game in the 86th minute.
Mohun Bagan could have had another goal in the 88th but Manvir’s glanced header back from a Asish Rai’s free kick bounced off the crossbar.
Kiyan Nassiri too was introduced by Coyle but his cross from the left, albeit dangerous went harmlessly through hoard of legs.
In added time after 90, Stewart struck the crossbar again and even though Cummings forced the ball into the net, the effort was cancelled for being off side. Mohun Bagan in the end held on for all three points.