Mohun Bagan Secure Record-Breaking Indian Super League Title
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Mohun Bagan’s Historic ISL Shield Defence
Mohun Bagan made history by becoming the first team in the Indian Super League to successfully defend their title last week after defeating Odisha FC 1-0 in what turned out to be a championship-worthy encounter. The decisive goal came from Australian international Dimitrios Petratos, who found the back of the net three minutes into added time at the end of the match in front of the team’s jubilant home fans at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium.
As often happens in Indian football, the Mariners’ season began with a shake-up, as the club opted to part ways with Antonio Habas - the most successful manager in ISL history - owing to “health reasons.” However, his subsequent appointment at I-League club Inter Kashi suggested there was more to the story of his departure, but MBSG, despite a few shaky moments during the early stages of the campaign, quickly found their rhythm again following the arrival of a familiar face in Jose Molina.
Despite the controversial sale of centre-back Anwar Ali to rivals East Bengal before the departures of Joni Kauko and Brendan Hamill, the Spaniard managed to work his magic and transformed the Mariners into a near-perfect side. Not only did Mohun Bagan wrap up the title with games to spare, but they also did so while losing only two matches until they were crowned champions and smashed a handful of incredible records along the way, including:
- Becoming the first ISL team to surpass 50 points
- Recording the most wins in a single ISL season (16 to date)
- Posting the most home wins in a single ISL season (nine to date)
- Scoring the most set-piece goals in a single ISL season (20)
- Keeping the most clean sheets in a single ISL season (14 to date)
- Becoming the first team ever in the ISL to keep six clean sheets in a row
Molina’s side’s statistics this term are truly astonishing, particularly in defence, where they have reduced the number of goals conceded by 46% - something almost unheard of across any major football league. For perspective, English Premier League giants Arsenal had the best defence in England’s top flight last season, conceding 29 goals, and a similar reduction in their tally would have seen them allow just 13 goals in 38 league games!
Subhasish Bose, Alberto Rodriguez, and Tom Aldred were crucial to MBSG’s incredible defence, while Jamie MacLaren, who reamined patient throughout his first season in the ISL, emerged as a game-changer, scoring match-winning goals in six games, while the side won all eight matches in which the Aussie found the back of the net. Of course, you cannot discuss the Mariners’ success this season without mentioning Vishal Kaith’s transformation into the best goalkeeper in the Indian top flight.
With the title secured, Mohun Bagan are now on their victory lap and will travel to the Mumbai Football Arena to face the Islanders on Saturday before returning to Kolkata for their trophy presentation after facing Goa FC on March 8. You can also keep up with all the action from the last two rounds of the season via our Indian Super League livescore tool.
Check out our Mumbai City vs. Mohun Bagan prediction ahead of this weekend’s kickoff!
