GUWAHATI: Mohun Bagan Super Giant stretched their dominance in the Kolkata Derby with a 1-0 win over East Bengal FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season on Saturday, January 11, 2025.

Jamie Maclaren scored the fastest goal of the Kolkata Derby in ISL and it was enough for the reigning champions to see out their arch-rivals, whilst going eight points clear (35) at the top of the table, compared to the second-placed Bengaluru FC (27).

The Mariners have now won nine times and drawn once in their 10 Kolkata Derby clashes against East Bengal FC in the ISL.

The Mariners started the game strongly as Maclaren handed them the early lead in the second minute. The East Bengal FC were caught off-guard as Asish Rai’s long ball found Maclaren in space. After receiving the ball, he lost his marker and slotted it past an onrushing goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill without any difficulty.

Around the sixth minute mark, it was East Bengal’s turn to attack and they did get two great opportunities to equalise through PV Vishnu and Cleiton Silva. But, both the players weren’t clinical enough as they saw their attempts get blocked.

In the 21st minute, the Mariners almost doubled their lead when Maclaren found Manvir Singh with a telling cross. However, the latter’s shot was straight at Gill with the entire goal found gaping.

East Bengal FC gained a lot of momentum as the first half came to a close with the likes of Jeakson Singh, Vishnu and Cleiton getting on the ball in the final third and creating problems for the Mohun Bagan Super Giant backline. However, they weren’t clinical enough to end the first half on level terms.

Things took a drastic turn in the 64th minute when Souvik Chakrabarti brought down Liston Colaco near the penalty area, only to receive his second yellow card followed by subsequent marching orders. With one goal down, East Bengal FC were now chasing the game with 10 men.

Just like in the first half, East Bengal FC were on the ascendancy for the final ten minutes in the second half and therefore the likes of Dimitrios Petratos and Deepak Tangri came on late in the game with the hope of closing out the match.

The Red & Golds threw bodies forward in the final few minutes of the game but they lacked quality in the final third to break through the defence of the Mariners as they continued their near-perfect record in the fixture.

Alberto Rodriguez was adjudged the Key Performer of the Match.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant will next face Jamshedpur FC on January 17, whereas East Bengal FC will lock horns against FC Goa on January 19.

Mohammedan Sporting edge out Bengaluru FC 1-0

BENGALURU: Mohammedan Sporting defeated Bengaluru FC 1-0 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.

A late free-kick by Mirjalol Kasimov sealed the deal for the visitors, as the Blues fell for their fourth loss of the season. It was also Mohammedan SC’s second triumph on the road, despite keeping only 34.2% of the possession and attempting 10 crosses compared to the 26 of Bengaluru FC.

Mohammedan SC’s eventual moment of glory came in the 88th minute, courtesy of an individual moment of brilliance by Mirjalol Kasimov. Franca’s relentlessness upfront paid off with him making the visitors earn a free-kick in the attacking half. Kasimov stepped up for the duties, producing a peach of an effort with his right foot to rattle the top left corner to break the deadlock and bag Mohammedan SC’s long-south second victory.

Mohammedan SC will square off against Chennaiyin FC on January 15. Bengaluru FC will play their next game against Hyderabad FC on January 18.

(Courtesy: ISL Media Team)