ISL 2024-25: Mohun Bagan SG End Perfect League Phase With 2-0 Win Over FC Goa | Football News
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Boris Singh scored an own goal and Greg Stewart finished off the contest in the dying minutes as Mohun Bagan Super Giant beat FC Goa 2-0 in the 024-25 Indian Super League.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant beat FC Goa 2-0 in the ISL 2024-25 season. (Image: X)
Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated FC Goa 2-0 in the 2024-25 Indian Super League (ISL) at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Saturday.
Boris Singh scored an own goal, and Greg Stewart finished off the contest in the dying minutes as Mohun Bagan stayed unbeaten at home for the season.
It was end-to-end in the opening exchanges as more than 60 thousand fans watched from the stands.
Greg Stewart and Dimitri Petratos had attempts on goals, but their efforts did not trouble Hrithik Tiwary in the Goa goal. Aakash Sangwan went into the referee’s book for pulling back Manvir Singh on the break.
Iker Guarrotxena had a golden chance to score against the run of play,y but he shot just wide of the post after receiving Borja Herrera’s pass in the 17th minute.
Mohun Bagan started to dominate proceedings as Stewart, Petratos, and Manvir piled the pressure on the duo of Odei Onaindia and Sandesh Jhingan.
Liston Colaco had a great chance in the 25th minute when a cleared header landed at his feet, but his stride while taking the shot was thwarted.
There was harakiri in the Mariners penalty box as Borja’s free-kick was somehow punched away by Dheeraj Singh but the Mohun Bagan defenders fell over each other multiple times in order to get the loose ball clear.
Joe Molina and Manolo Marquez set up their sides in such a manner that the mid-field battle prevented either team to get control of possession and dictate matters.
There was controversy in added time of the first half when a mistake from Boris Singh saw Manvir get the ball in mid-field as he played in Petratos, who was tackled to the ground. The ball, though, fell back to the feet of Manvir as the forward slotted his slot past the keeper. The stands exploded. FC Goa players went over the linesman protesting for a handball. The referee, after speaking to his colleagues, pulled play back, deeming that Petratos did indeed handle the ball when he fell down. The goal was scratched off, and a free-kick was awarded.
The second half restarted at goalless as Armando Sadiku replaced Carl McHugh for FC Goa. Asish Rai received a yellow card and was replaced by Dippendu Biswas soon after.
In the 62nd minute, Boris Singh had a brain fade. He had been wrestling for every ball but went a little too strong against Liston as the referee flashed his yellow card in his face. As the free-kick was recycled back to Tom Aldred, the Mohun Bagan defender launched the ball deep into FC Goa’s half. Boris, taking back, headed the cross into the supposed path of his keeper. But Hrithik had wandered over to the line of the cross, leaving his goal unattended. The cushioned header bounced into the empty net as the Mariners erupted again in the stands.
There was a flurry of yellow cards as Ashique Kuruniyan, Alberto Rodriguez, and Odei went into the referee’s book.
Manolo decided to change things as Seriton Fernandes and Muhammed Nemil replaced Aakash and Boris. After the water break, there were more substations as Mohammad Yasir and Odei made way for Dejan Drazic and Nim Dorjee while Jason Cummings replaced Petratos.
Mohun Bagan and FC Goa were looking to play out the minutes without much fuss, but Stewart had other plans. A clearance was fumbled by Sandesh as he failed to control the ball. Cummings jumped at the opportunity and somehow played in Stewart, who thumped the ball past Hrithik for the win.
A record sixth-straight clean sheet meant the Mariners finished the league phase eight points ahead of the Gaurs, the highest in the history of the ISL. Mohun Bagan’s total points of 56 is also the highest ever in the tournament.