ISL 2024-25: Mumbai City holds Mohun Bagan SG to a 2-2 draw, gets one foot in the playoffs

ISL 2024-25: Mumbai City holds Mohun Bagan SG to a 2-2 draw, gets one foot in the playoffs

Mumbai City FC drew 2-2 against Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the Mumbai Football Arena in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25, here on Saturday.

The Islanders moved to 33 points from 22 games and are now just one point away from qualifying for the playoffs.

There was a spate of chances created in the opening half-hour by the Mariners, with players like Jamie Maclaren and Deepak Tangri taking the onus in the final third to discover openings past the Mumbai City FC defence.

The Islanders whisked past a couple of close calls before Maclaren provided another testament to his finishing instinct with a powerful finish into the bottom left corner from the centre of the box in the 32nd minute.

Mumbai City FC arguably missed the composed presence of Mehtab Singh at the heart of the backline as Dimitrios Petratos made it pay for the lack of organisation with a stunning strike from inside the 18-yard area to double the lead, nine minutes later.

The hosts regained their footing after the break when Brandon Fernandes’s corner kick, following a failed clearance by Tom Aldred was nudged into the let by Jon Toral, his first in the league this season.

However, their troubles worsened when Vikram Partap Singh was given marching orders, his second yellow card, for a controversial challenge on Mohun Bagan captain Subhasish Bose. But instead of getting into a defensive shape, Mumbai City went all guns blazing and found the equaliser just one minute from time.

Ayush Chikara won a free kick in the 88th minute and Nathan Rodrigues used the set-piece opportunity to the fullest, heading the ball into the middle of the net.