ISL season-11: Honours shared as Mohun Bagan & Mumbai City FC resume rivalry in style

KOLKATA: Just like it was seen last season. Just like it can now be accepted as a benchmark. It may still feel too early but the rivalry between Mohun Bagan SG and Mumbai City is going to shape up the new season — again.


If you need proof of that never-ending thirst for twists that defines a big game, if you are constantly reminded of the old adage that nothing is over until it’s over, it was much in evidence at the rain-bathed Salt Lake Stadium on Friday. Reigning ISL Shield winners Mohun Bagan SG and Cup holders Mumbai City FC seemed to have started from where they had left five months ago — no quarters were given and no mercy shown as they ended up sharing the spoils 2-2 in the tournament opener.

Jose Molina’s hosts raced to a 2-0 lead inside the opening half an hour thanks to Tiri’s own goal and Alberto Rodriguez’s strike in 29 minutes. Petr Kratky’s visitors dug in, believing in themselves and finding the target twice in the final 20 minutes. Tiri first reduced the margin in the 69th minute and second-half substitute Thaer Krouma snatched a point for Mumbai with their second goal in the 90th minute.

It was a perfect start to a new season of the league. It was just the kind of a reminder that these two teams are about to lead the race for good reason. Creativity is the hallmark of these two teams but all the goals — including the opening one which was an own goal — came more from chaos than coherence.

Mumbai went into an attacking mode right from the word go, enjoying possession and Bipin Singh bossing the left flank with his usual pace and potency and had even a goal disallowed for off-side. But having the ball isn’t enough and it’s what you do with it that counts.

Such is the wealth of Mohun Bagan’s attacking prowess that if you doze off for a second, disaster will knock at your door rightaway. The opening goal of the new season sprang from an error in the heart of Mumbai rearguard and goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa certainly couldn’t absolve himself of his role in it.

Liston Colaco, receiving the ball from Subhasish Bose, tried to square it across the face of the goal in the 9th minute. Lachenpa, standing at first post, should have stopped it, but ended up getting a faint touch to it and the ball took a deflection off his defender Tiri’s legs and went in.

The build-up to Mohun Bagan’s second goal in the 29th minute was also chaotic. As the ball came to Asish Rai following a corner, he sent it deep towards the other end. Greg Stewart headed it back into the box and Alberto Rodriguez met it with a first-time volley which was spot on as Mumbai defenders again failed to react in time.

Dimitri Petratos — who scuppered a gilt-edged chance to swell the lead when he found himself in a one-on-one position with the goalkeeper but failed to beat him soon after the restart — was uncharacteristically subdued. His Australian partner Jason Cummings was also largely ineffective. But just when Bagan thought they had done enough to get over the line, Mumbai struck back.

Substitute Noufal PN who came in the 62nd minute, was at the heart of both goals. On the first occasion, his cross was met by Tiri, managing to find space and time to push it towards the goal, Rai’s desperate attempt to block it on the line failing to bear fruit. Then Krouma ruined Bagan’s hopes further, his placing on receiving the centre from Noufal perfect and precise to scythe through the heart of Bagan defence.



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