Mohun Bagan Clinches Last-Minute Victory Against Kerala Blasters
Kolkata, Dec 14 - Defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant showcased their resilience with a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory over Kerala Blasters FC during the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium. This latest win marks the Mariners' fifth consecutive home triumph, solidifying their position at the top of the league table.
The match kicked off with Kerala Blasters FC exerting early pressure, led by Noah Sadaoui and Jesus Jimenez, who both sought to breach the Mohun Bagan defense. Just two minutes in, Sadaoui aimed for the goal from outside the box, followed by Jimenez whose left-footed shot was thwarted by Mohun Bagan's goalkeeper Vishal Kaith.
Despite dominating possession with 56.5%, the home side faced challenges from the Blasters' cohesive midfield. Kerala's efforts seemed close to yielding results, with Pritam Kotal's crafted opportunities leading to near misses, including Danish Farooq's shot spiraling wide of the right post.
Mohun Bagan's breakthrough came at the 33-minute mark, as veteran Jamie Maclaren capitalized on Sachin Suresh's rebound following a powerful shot from distance by teammate Ashish Rai. Maclaren slotted the ball comfortably past the goalkeeper, bringing joy to the home crowd.
With the first-half advantage, Mohun Bagan entered the break on high spirits, but the second half revealed Kerala Blasters' determination to claw back. Jimenez found the equalizer at the 51st minute. Capitalizing on Kaith's mistake—who hesitated on the ball—Jimenez seized the moment and sent a stinging shot to the bottom left corner, leveling the scores.
Kerala continued to demonstrate their attacking flair, with Sadaoui testing Kaith multiple times, forcing the keeper to showcase his skills, including a notable save during the 67th minute. Nonetheless, the Blasters finally pierced through the Mariners’ defense again at the 77-minute mark, when Milos Drincic took advantage of another blunder from Kaith to give Kerala Blasters the lead.
Yet, the night was still young, and Mohun Bagan was not ready to surrender. With Jason Cummings introduced as a substitute, the dynamics shifted favorably. Just after being brought onto the field, Cummings scored to restore parity at the 86th minute, meeting Dimitrios Petratos' cross and finding the net with precision—much to the delight of the ecstatic home fans.
With both teams searching for victory, it seemed the match would end on even terms. But the drama continued! A corner kick during stoppage time saw Kerala's defense falter once more. Unlike before, when they managed to clear their lines, this time Alberto Rodriguez made them pay. Positioned outside the penalty area, Rodriguez unleashed a blistering half-volley, sending the ball past Suresh and clinching the win for the Mariners at 90+5 minutes.
This thrilling comeback not only guarantees three points for Mohun Bagan but also pushes them up to 26 points after 11 matches, firmly keeping them at the top of the standings. Meanwhile, Kerala Blasters are left grappling with their inconsistency this season, now sitting at 10th place with just 11 points.
With the match now concluded, the excitement bubbles over as Mohun Bagan continues to navigate their campaign, displaying tenacity and skill, and leaving Kerala with much to ponder as they strive to recover from three consecutive losses.
