ISL 2024-25: Mohun Bagan rejoices in Shield-winning celebrations at home with victory over FC Goa

ISL 2024-25: Mohun Bagan rejoices in Shield-winning celebrations at home with victory over FC Goa

It turned out to be a night of celebrations for some 62000 Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) fans who thronged the giant Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday to witness their team prevail over FC Goa 2-0 and celebrate the Indian Super League (ISL) League Winners Shield at home.

MBSG had ensured the title with a win against Odisha FC a couple of weeks ago, but the win against Goa completed its dominance in the country’s top division.

The result helped MBSG set a host of records. It tallied the highest points (56) in a 24-game league to become the most accomplished side in ISL history while FC Goa remained second with 48 points.

MBSG secured the lead off Goa defender Boris Singh’s own goal before its Scottish playmaker Greg Stewart doubled the lead in second-half injury time.

In this process, the Mariners won the most matches (17) in the ISL and became the only side to win 11 games at home while remaining unbeaten. This was also their 15th clean sheet, another league record.

Goa started well, showing more initiative in the opening half. It created multiple scoring opportunities but its attack kept missing from close range.

Building its attacks through the flanks, the visitor had its first chance in the 16th minute when Iker Guarrotxena had a clear look at the MBSG goal.

The Spanish forward, set up unmarked by his compatriot Borja Herrera, remained wayward with his effort. A couple of minutes later, winger Udanta Singh broke into the Bagan box but Tom Aldred blocked his effort.

The action thereafter meandered to the middle of the park as both sides battled for control. MBSG found the net in first-half added time off Manvir Singh but was disallowed when the referee found Bagan forward Dimitrios Petratos had handled the ball in the build-up, after protests by Goa players.

MBSG did not have to wait for long for the breakthrough as a miscommunication in Goa’s defence saw Boris head an attempted back-pass into his own goal in the 62nd minute. Goa’s goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari had relinquished his position and the ball trickled unchallenged into an open goal.

MBSG ended the match with an all-well-that-ends-well strike in the fourth minute of added time in the second half when Stewart found the net at the end of a counterattack.

Published on Mar 08, 2025