Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata: In a opening match of the Indian Super League (ISL) XI, Mumbai City FC mounted a dramatic late comeback to hold Mohun Bagan Super Giant to a 2-2 draw at the Salt Lake Stadium on Friday. Despite leading 2-0 for the majority of the game, Bagan faltered in the final moments, allowing Mumbai City to snatch a vital point.
The hosts, Mohun Bagan, started the game strongly and took the lead in just the 9th minute. A free-kick situation saw Mumbai City’s defense fail to clear the danger. Subhasish Bose, stationed just outside the box, passed to Liston Colaco on the left wing. Colaco’s low cross caused chaos in the Mumbai City defense, and defender Tiri inadvertently put the ball into his own net while trying to clear it, giving Bagan an early 1-0 lead.
Bagan doubled their advantage in the 28th minute when Alberto Rodriguez volleyed home from close range. The Kolkata giants looked in firm control and headed into halftime with a comfortable 2-0 lead.
As the second half progressed, Mohun Bagan appeared to be cruising towards victory. However, the game took a turn when Mumbai City coach Petr Kratky made crucial substitutions. In the 62nd minute, he brought on winger PN Noufal, followed by a triple change in the 85th minute, introducing Thaer Krouma, Vikram Partap Singh, and Brandon Fernandes to inject pace and creativity into the attack.
The momentum began to shift, and in the 70th minute, Mumbai City found their way back into the game. Tiri, who had earlier scored an own goal, redeemed himself with a scrappy finish to bring the score to 2-1.
Bagan’s defense, already weakened by the injury to Alberto Rodriguez in the 79th minute, struggled to hold firm. Mumbai City piled on the pressure, and in the 90th minute, substitute Thaer Krouma completed the comeback with a well-taken goal to level the match at 2-2.
Bagan coach Antonio Habas Molina’s substitutions, including the introduction of Sahal Abdul Samad and Anirudh Thapa after Mumbai’s first goal, failed to stabilize the team. The injury to Rodriguez made the Bagan defense vulnerable, and they couldn’t withstand Mumbai City’s late resurgence.
This is the second consecutive match where Bagan let a two-goal lead slip, having also squandered a similar advantage against NorthEast United FC in the Durand Cup final two weeks ago.
Despite the disappointment for Mohun Bagan, the match set a high standard for the ISL XI season, with both teams showcasing their attacking prowess. For Mumbai City, the late comeback reflects their resilience, while Mohun Bagan will need to address their defensive lapses to avoid further heartbreaks as the season progresses.
The thrilling draw leaves both teams with a point, but for Mohun Bagan, it felt like two points lost rather than one gained. Mumbai City, meanwhile, will take confidence from their fighting spirit as they move forward in the league.
Scorers:
- Mohun Bagan Super Giant: Tiri (OG, 9’), Alberto Rodriguez (28’)
- Mumbai City FC: Tiri (70’), Thaer Krouma (90’)
Key Moments:
- 9’ – Tiri scores an own goal to give Mohun Bagan an early lead.
- 28’ – Rodriguez volleys in a second goal for Bagan.
- 70’ – Tiri redeems himself with a scrappy goal for Mumbai City.
- 90’ – Thaer Krouma completes the comeback for Mumbai City with a late equalizer.
Next Match:
Mohun Bagan Super Giant will face Chennaiyin FC, while Mumbai City will take on FC Goa in the next round of fixtures.