Jamie Maclaren’s brace and a goal from Liston Colaco helped Mohun Bagan Super Giant beat Punjab FC 3-0 in an ISL 2024-25 clash at the Salt Lake Stadium on Wednesday.
The win strengthened the Mariners’ claim of retaining the League Shield as they tally 46 points from 20 matches – a 12-point lead at the top over second-placed Jamshedpur FC, which has played two fewer matches.
Mohun Bagan struggled to open up space in the first-half against the tight defensive organisation of Punjab FC. Greg Stewart had a chance in the 10th minute but his right-footed effort was nicely tipped over by Ravi Kumar.
The Mariners continued to show their offensive intent with regular incursions inside the Punjab box but the visitor’s defence somehow held up with timely clearances. Colaco tried a long-range grounder towards the end of the first-half but Ravi Kumar managed to save it on the second attempt.
AS IT HAPPENED: Mohun Bagan SG vs Punjab FC HIGHLIGHTS
Following the barren first-half, the match came alive in the 55th minute when Punjab launched a dangerous counter-attack, which saw its playmaker Pula Vidal moving into the opposition box. His accurate cross found Petros Giakoumakis unmarked on the Bagan goalmouth, but the Greek forward’s attempt came off the upright.
The close shave seemed to bring Mohun Bagan out of its slumber, and the host took the lead in the next minute (56th minute). Maclaren, assisted by a cross from Dipendu Biswas, broke the deadlock with a nice finish. The Australian striker showed his class as he received the ball and shielded it from Punjab’s Croatian centre-back Ivan Novoselec before finding the net with a grounded effort.
Energised by the lead, the host pushed for a second and got it when Colaco found the net in the 63rd minute from a fine solo effort. The Mohun Bagan winger dispatched a right-footed shot from an acute angle, and the ball went past an off-positioned Kumar in the Punjab goal and hit the inside of the upright to find its way home.
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This sealed the match in favour of Mohun Bagan before Maclaren grabbed his brace in the 90th minute thanks to a miss-pass by Punjab defender Ashis Pradhan. This completed the ninth straight win at home for Jose Molina’s men, who also kept their 12th clean sheet in the process.
Vishal Kaith felicitated
In a brief function just before the match, Mohun Bagan SG presented a commemorative jersey to its goalkeeper Vishal Kaith for becoming the first goalkeeper in the ISL history to reach 50 clean sheets.
Kaith reached the figures in the previous match when Mohun Bagan beat Mohammedan Sporting 4-0 at the same venue.
The goalkeeper is also leading the race for the golden glove having kept 12 clean sheets for the team so far.
Content Source: sportstar.thehindu.com