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Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated Kerala Blasters 3-2 in the 2024-25 Indian Super League.
ISL 2024-25: Mohun Bagan Super Giant 3-2 Kerala Blasters. (X)
Mohun Bagan Super Giant edged out Kerala Blasters 3-2 in the 2024-25 Indian Super League at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Saturday.
Jamie Maclaren, Jason Cummings and Alberto Rodriguez scored to pip strikes from Jesus Jimenez and Milos Drincic.
Kerala Blasters started the game on the front foot. In the second minute, Apuia lost possession in front of the penalty box as the loose ball fell to Noah Sadaoui. His strike was again deflected with an attempted block, forcing Vishal Kaith into an acrobatic save.
Noah was at it again barely two minutes later, running past Asish Rai to send in a fizzing ball to Jesus Jimenez, whose back-heeled attempt was reactively saved by the Mohun Bagan keeper.
Liston Colaco tried his luck from distance in the 12th minute but his effort sailed comfortably over Sachin Suresh’s bar. Subhasish Bose forced the Blasters’ keeper to make a save in the 18th but his shot too was relatively harmless.
There were calls for a penalty from the Blasters when a cross from Sandeep saw Tom Aldred stooping low to head something he would have normally kicked away. He missed and in the confusion touched the ball with his arm, which the referee did not spot.
Mohun Bagan took the lead in the 33rd minute against the run of play as Asish’s long-range shot was parried straight to Maclaren, who tapped in from inside the six-yard box.
Jimenez got a golden chance to get the equaliser in the 43rd minute as he escaped Mohun Bagan’s offside trap from a Pritam Kotal dink but ended up missing the target with only Kaith to beat in goal.
Kerala Blasters started the second half with renewed vigour as they looked to be a little more proactive in their press. The result was almost immediate as the visitors equalised in the 51st. A mistake from Subhasish saw his clearance land at the feet of Jimenez, who slotted the ball past a diving Kaith.
Kerala could have taken the lead in the 65th minute when a long ball from Naocha Singh was missed by Asish, meaning Sadaoui was free on goal. Kaith though touched his shot inches wide.
Kaith was the man who made the next mistake as he came out to claim an Adrian Luna free-kick but spilt it in his gather. Drincic reacted the quickest and prodded home for the lead in the 77th.
Mohun Bagan coach Jose Molina had to do something. Ashique Kuruniyan and Jason Cummings replaced Liston Colaco and Tom Aldred.
The pair combined soon after to help The Mariners equalise. In the 86th minute, Ashique found Dimitri Petratos with a pinpoint cross. His goalward shot was somehow touched past Sachin.
Mohun Bagan were not done with their comeback though as in the fifth minute of second half added time, Alberto Rodriguez blasted home a rocket from the edge of the penalty, stunning Kerala.