Bipin Singh and Jakub Vojtus scored in the 81st and 97th minutes respectively against Mohun Bagan to hand Mumbai City FC the Indian Super League trophy 2024 at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday. While the Islanders lifted their second ISL title, Mohun Bagan was left heartbroken as their dream of becoming the first team to defend the ISL Cup and complete a rare double of winning the League Winners Shield and the title was broken.
Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan went for the break leading 1-0 after Jason Cummings found the back of the net in the 44th minute. However, the City Football Group-owned MCFC equalized in the 53rd minute through Jorge Pereyra Diaz. The former Kerala Blasters striker was assisted by Alberto Noguera before Jakub Vojtus helped Singh score the decider just nine minutes left in regulation time.
The icing on the cake for Petr Kratky's team came from Spaniard Vojtus as the men in blue found a third to seal the game against the run of play. Mohun Bagan's all-out attack strategy backfired as Vojtus scored with less than two minutes left to play. The referee allowed nine minutes of injury time to the liking of the Kolkata crowd. However, a section of the spectators were seen vacating their seats before the full-time whistle following Vojtus's strike.
Jorge Pereyra Diaz scored for Mumbai City FC | Salil Bera
Mohun Bagan vs Mumbai City FC: As it happened
In the 30th minute, Chhangte whipped in a freekick from an angle as it sailed over a scrambling Vishal Kaith, only to hit the crossbar and bounce out.
A couple of minutes later, Chhangte outpaced Subhasish Bose, receiving a through ball.
Instead of shooting, he passed it back into the six-yard box, but there were no Mumbai men to tap the ball in.
ISL champions Mumbai City FC celebrate with their coach Petr Kratky | Salil Bera
Kaith and the Subhasish Bose-led defence stayed under pressure, dealing with Mumbai's attacking threats.
Suddenly, Mohun Bagan lifted the atmosphere by storming into the lead.
Liston Colaco played a precise pass to Dimitri Petratos who unleashed a thunderous strike from 40 yards out as Lachenpa flapped it back into the six yard box in a sloppy goalkeeping effort.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man, Mohun Bagan's chief marksman Jason Cummings sprang into action latching onto the loose ball and calmly chipped it over Phurba Lachenpa with his effortless left-footer.
But the lead did not last long as Mumbai equalised soon after the break.
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ISL champions Mumbai City FC with the trophy | Salil Bera
A special mention should go to Spaniard Alberto Noguera for his pinpoint accuracy in delivering a sublime pass from the midfield straight into the box.
The Mohun Bagan defence was caught off guard by it as the Argentine forward seized the opportunity, effortlessly bypassing Manvir Singh without Anwar Ali to contend with.
With a deft left-footed touch, Diaz calmly slotted the ball past Kaith, who stretched out his left leg in a desperate attempt to save, but to no avail.
Three years after he struck the winner in a close-door final at Margao, Bipin once again made the difference after he came on the field replacing Noguera in the 69th minute.
Chhangte dodged past Joni Kauko and took a weak shot, but Bipin's second attempt deflected off Hector Yuste and into the net, securing the decisive goal.
Jakub capitalised on Bipin's hold-up play, receiving the ball and calmly passing it to Vikram Pratap Singh, who then set up Bipin for a shot blocked by Anwar.
However, Jakub pounced on the rebound and fired it past the fallen defender to seal the issue.
- With PTI inputs
