Super Cup 2025 semifinal: Mohun Bagan eyes maiden final vs Goa; Jamshedpur locks horns with Mumbai City

Super Cup 2025 semifinal: Mohun Bagan eyes maiden final vs Goa; Jamshedpur locks horns with Mumbai City

Despite a record-breaking Indian Super League (ISL) season, Mohun Bagan Super Giant started Super Cup 205 with mellow expectations, fielding a young, almost-Indian squad without key foreigners.

Having beaten Kerala Blasters in the quarterfinals, the only thing between the Mariners and their first-ever Super Cup final is Manolo Marquez’s FC Goa, which they will face at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.

The Gaurs, on the other hand, are coming off a late comeback win against Punjab FC in the quarters in what is Marquez’s final competition as Goa manager. Despite facing a second-string Bagan, the Spaniard remained cautious about which way the game could go.

“I think that the game will be very difficult because they have nothing to lose,” Marquez said during the pre-match press conference.

“This is the reality. They have already won two trophies and have secured a slot for the continental competition. Honestly, I would like to be in Mohun Bagan’s position,” he added with a smile.

With Goa enjoying an aerial advantage in centre-backs Odei Onaindia and Sandesh Jhingan, Bagan could stick with Ashique Kuruniyan and Salahudheen Adnan K along the flanks, to use their dribbling abilities and make inroads into the box.

The experienced Sahal Abdul Samad, who bagged a goal against his former club KBFC in the quarters, is expected to dictate play in the midfield, getting much-needed minutes after a league season marred by injuries.

Despite its aptitude in attack, Bagan’s defence will be wary of the numerous chances it conceded against KBFC, which went unpunished due to some poor finishing and some fine saves by goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh.

For Goa, the creative duties could rest on Ayush Chhetri and Borja Herrera to play through the middle, with forwards Dejan Drazic and Iker Guarrotxena dropping back to provide an extra passing option.

Marquez also has the option of starting ISL’s Emerging Player of the Season, Brison Fernandes, or Mohammad Yasir, both of whom came off the bench to assist and score, respectively, in the quarterfinal against Punjab.

With both teams securing one win each during their meetings in the ISL, Marquez will hope his side can get him one step closer to a dream farewell, while the Mariners will eye a domestic treble.

Later in the day, a resurgent Mumbai City (MCFC) will take on Jamshedpur (JFC) in the other semifinal.

The Islanders bounced back from a disappointing ISL season to thrash Chennaiyin 4-0 in the first round before edging past I-League side Inter Kashi 1-0 in the quarterfinal.

Meanwhile, JFC will hope it gets third time lucky after bowing out at the same stage of the competition in the previous two editions.

Khalid Jamil rallied his men past Hyderabad (2-0) in the round of 16 before fortune helped them eliminate NorthEast United on penalties.

MCFC will be reliant on in-form captain Lallianzuala Chhangte, who seems to have turned the tide after an underwhelming ISL campaign, scoring three goals and assisting one in the two games so far in the Super Cup.

With defenders Sahil Panwar and Nathan Rodriguez’s availability yet to be confirmed, MCFC head coach Petr Kratky could start with a five-man backline like in their previous game, with Noufal P.N. and Vikram Partap Singh on the wings, while Thaer Krouma is likely to slot in for Nathan.

“JFC is a very good team, and we know what we are going to face. They finished the season strong and are having a good tournament now as well,” Kratky said.

“But we are ready to try and stop them from getting many chances. If we defend well and execute what we need to execute, then I am confident of getting a positive result,” he added.