Mohun Bagan SG has Become the First Team to Defend the ISL Title

Mohun Bagan Super Giant became the first team in Indian Super League (ISL) history to defend the title on Sunday, defeating Odisha FC 1-0 in a dramatic match. Dimitrios Petratos scored the game-winning goal in extra time.

Australian forward Petratos (90+3) scored in the third minute of extra time in front of ecstatic home fans at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium.

By winning the ISL Shield, MBSG earned a spot in the AFC Champions League 2, the continent's second-tier club competition. They retained the League Shield, which they had won in 2023-24.

Mohun Bagan Super Giants won their 22nd league game, securing 52 points and winning the Shield with two matches to spare.

FC Goa, their nearest rival, has 42 points from 21 matches and cannot catch MBSG even if they win all three of their remaining games.

The Jose Molina-coached team has 16 wins, four draws, and only two losses.

After a cautious start, Odisha FC found their first opening in the Mohun Bagan Super Giant defensive third via the inside channel of the right flank. Hugo Boumous broke down the Mariners' defence with a through ball that found Rahul KP perfectly at close range.

Rahul, however, did not slot the ball into the net; instead, he rushed into the effort and tried a strong shot. He consequently failed to put the ball on goal in the 19th minute.

In the 31st minute, Lalengmawia Ralte, a mainstay in the Mariners' midfield, showed some offensive bite by trying to complete an attacking move by the Mohun Bagan Super Giants with a deft pass to Jamie Maclaren on the right side of the 18-yard box.

Unlike Rahul, Maclaren was able to direct his shot on goal, but it was saved and diverted for a corner by Odisha FC goalkeeper Amrinder Singh.

Amrinder was kept busy by the dynamic home side frontline, which worked together to put him to the test between the posts. Greg Stewart did well to halt an Odisha FC defensive build-up by recovering possession in the middle of the box and firing a quick shot into the bottom left corner, which was saved by the visiting goalkeeper.

Maclaren was perfectly positioned to capitalize on the rebound, and he attempted to drill the ball past the goal line from a narrow angle on the right, but Amrinder adjusted and quickly got his hand to the end of the ball near the half-time whistle.

Throughout the second half of the game, Stewart persisted in his attempts to penetrate the Juggernauts. He rushed into the Odisha FC box in the 60th minute and passed to Manvir Singh in the middle. Manvir wasted a good chance to score a goal by misplacing the pass down the right side instead of holding the line when it was delivered to him.

In the 82nd minute, Petratos tried a bold attempt from outside the 18-yard box, but Amrinder held firm and stopped the shot in its tracks.

The visitors were reduced to ten men after Mourtada Fall tripped and fouled Maclaren close to the Odisha FC box, earning him a red card.

Petratos remained in the hunt for the winner even in extra time, eventually sealing the game and the championship for the Mariners with a powerful and precise shot from outside the box that rattled the bottom left corner of the net.