Mohun Bagan Super Giant secured a dramatic victory against Kerala Blasters, widening their lead over Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) standings. With 26 points to Bengaluru’s 24 and a game in hand, a win against FC Goa on December 20 could put them in a commanding position in the title race.
Central to their triumph was Alberto Rodriguez Martin, who celebrated his decisive goal in stoppage time. Despite the victory, coach Jose Molina described the performance as the team’s worst of the season. Vishal Kaith’s errors gifted Kerala Blasters goals that leveled the score at 1-1 and gave them a 2-1 lead. Mohun Bagan started the game sluggishly and struggled in the second half, yet they emerged 3-2 winners.
Kerala Blasters’ coach Mikael Stahre expressed disbelief at leaving the match empty-handed. “Difficult to believe that we will go home with nothing in the bag,” he said.
The game saw an early lead for Mohun Bagan, courtesy of Jamie Maclaren’s 33rd-minute strike. However, Kerala’s Jesus Jimenez equalized in the 51st minute with his ninth goal of the season, followed by a goal from central defender Milos Drinic in the 77th minute, giving Kerala a 2-1 advantage. Mohun Bagan, showcasing the depth of their squad, staged a thrilling comeback with goals from Jason Cummings in the 86th minute and Alberto Rodriguez in the 95th minute. This win marked their seventh in the last eight games.
Kerala Blasters had aimed to neutralize Mohun Bagan’s wide players, Manvir Singh and Liston Colaco, who had excelled against NorthEast United. Employing man-marking tactics, defenders Muhammed Saheef and Sandeep Singh forced Mohun Bagan to attack through the center. However, early lapses from the hosts almost proved costly.
In the second minute, Lalengmawia Ralte lost possession, initiating a trend for the home team. Noah Sadoui’s deflected shot needed a flying save from Kaith. Moments later, Sadoui set up Jimenez, whose back-heel attempt—reminiscent of his goal against Bengaluru FC—was also stopped by Kaith, showcasing his alertness early on.
