Mohun Bagan SG’s dominance echoes in the ISL 2024-25 League Shield fight!
Kolkata, February 23: The defending League Shield champion, Mohun Bagan SG, beat Odisha FC on their home turf to set a record-breaking points total of 52 and mark the ISL 2024-25 League Shield in their name. In the crucial clash, Mohun Bagan SG dominantly beat Odisha with a 1-0 score tonight. In the dying moments, super sub Dimitrios Petratos broke the wall of the Kalinga Warriors and brought the Shield home, in front of almost 57,000 fans.
Both teams played sleepy football in the first half. The first quarter’s ball possession was in favor of Odisha FC but failed to make a threat on the Mariners. In the 16th minute, Manvir got a through ball from the right flank, went inside the box, and from close range, took a shot toward the near post. Amrinder saved it as he was alert.
In the 43rd minute, Mohun Bagan SG created a great scoring chance, but the defense of Odisha was alert. Manvir got the ball on the right side of the box, went inside, and took a shot, but Carlos Delgado intercepted and cleared the threat. Within five minutes, in additional time at 45+2 minutes, following a defensive lapse just outside the box, Stewart unleashed a long shot, which Amrinder saved. However, the rebound fell to Maclaren on the right side of the box, but his shot was also saved by the keeper.
Throughout the first half, Odisha didn’t attempt a single on-target shot, but in front of Mohun Bagan’s attack, the Kalinga Warriors stood strong.
In the second half, Mohun Bagan SG created numerous goal-bound moves. In the 60th minute, from the right, Stewart passed the ball to Manvir in the six-yard box, but despite having an open chance, he placed the ball wide. In the 66th minute, Odisha FC created an effective chance when Boumous unleashed a long shot, which the keeper saved. However, the rebound fell to Dorielton inside the left box, but he failed to make proper contact, wasting the opportunity.
The momentum changed in the last quarter, in the 83rd minute, when, attempting a rough challenge, the wall of Odisha, Mortada Fall, received a red card. On the edge of the box, he fouled Maclaren, which caused a free kick. Though Dimi’s shot got deflected by the human wall, however the super sub turned the table for the Mariners in additional time to write their name in the ISL 2024-25 League Shield.
In the 90+3rd minute, Dimitris Petratos unleashed a long grounder shot from the right towards the second post to secure all three points and the 2024-25 ISL League Shield.
With a maximum of 57% ball possession and attempting a total of 29 shots, Mohun Bagan SG showcased a dominating performance over Odisha FC tonight. However, the Kalinga Warriors held up their determined defense for the full 90 minutes. With two matches remaining, Mohun Bagan SG secured the League Shield in their name, comfortably sitting at the top with 52 points from 22 matches. But for Sergio Lobera, this was a crucial game as they are sitting in 7th place with 29 points from the same number of matches, fighting for a Super Six spot.
NEXT FIXTURES: Mohun Bagan have their next away fixtures against Mumbai City FC, on March 1. Odisha will play their next away fixtures against Jamshedpur FC, on March 5.
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