Dimitri Lauds Maclaren as He Surpasses Ezzejjari
Jamie Maclaren lit up the stage of the Indian Super League with the first hat-trick of the season. The striker produced a stunning performance against Odisha FC, turning the match into a personal goal fest. Right from the start of the season, comparisons had begun between Maclaren and Yussef Ezzejjari of East Bengal FC. Both forwards were locked in a race for goals. But Maclaren has now pulled well ahead. The striker scored four goals against Odisha FC. In the process, he also registered the first hat-trick of this ISL season. With seven goals in four matches, he has moved comfortably ahead of Ezzejjari in the scoring chart. Teammate Dimitri Petratos was full of praise after the match. “This is not the first time he has scored so many in a game,” Petratos said. “He has done it before as well. Jamie loves scoring goals. I am really happy for him. And his goals are helping the team.” Maclaren started the storm in the 14th minute. He completed his four-goal show in the 88th minute. The Mohun Bagan Super Giant striker has looked lethal since the start of the league. With many matches still to come, fans will be eager to see what more magic comes from Maclaren’s boots.
Four-Star Maclaren Leads Mohun Bagan to Dominant 5–1 Win
Jamie Maclaren delivered a stunning four-goal performance as Mohun Bagan Super Giant thrashed Odisha FC 5–1 in an Indian Super League clash at Salt Lake Stadium on Friday. The Mariners struck early. In the 14th minute, Maclaren opened the scoring with a clinical finish inside the box, continuing his prolific run in front of goal. The Australian doubled the lead in the 23rd minute. Liston Colaco controlled the ball brilliantly on the right flank before slipping a precise pass into the area. Maclaren made no mistake, calmly slotting it past the goalkeeper to make it 2–0. Mohun Bagan kept pressing. In the 35th minute, Maclaren went down inside the box after a challenge from Zuidika, but the referee waved away the penalty appeals. Moments later, the Mariners added a third. Defender Alberto Rodríguez unleashed a stunning long-range effort from nearly 40 yards in the 41st minute. The low strike raced past the goalkeeper to give Mohun Bagan a commanding 3–0 lead. Odisha responded quickly. In the 43rd minute, Rahim Ali chased down a long through ball and finished smartly to pull one back for the visitors. But the night belonged to Maclaren. Just after the restart in the 46th minute, Colaco once again provided the assist with a superb cross into the box. Maclaren rose to the occasion and guided the ball past Amrinder Singh to complete his hat-trick. Odisha struggled to keep possession as Mohun Bagan continued to dominate the midfield. The fourth goal for Maclaren arrived late in the match, sealing an emphatic victory for the Mariners and completing a memorable four-goal haul for the Australian striker. Mohun Bagan nearly added another when Colaco produced a dazzling solo run from the halfway line in the 92nd minute, beating multiple defenders before firing just wide of the target. The victory underlined Mohun Bagan’s attacking firepower, with Maclaren’s four-goal masterclass lighting up the Salt Lake Stadium.
McCullum Wants to Stay On After England’s World Cup Heartbreak
England head coach Brendon McCullum has expressed his desire to continue in the role despite the team’s exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. England were knocked out after a dramatic seven-run loss to the India national cricket team in the semifinal at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The win sent India into the final against the New Zealand national cricket team. After the match, McCullum said he still enjoys the coaching role and hopes to continue. “I love the job. It’s a great job. It doesn’t come without its challenges, of course, but that is the nature of it. I feel we have achieved some really cool things over the last few years but there is still so much to achieve with the side, across all formats. I would love to carry on, so we will see what unfolds over the next little while.” India posted a massive 253/7 after being asked to bat first. Sanju Samson led the charge with a blistering 89 off 42 balls. England stayed in the hunt for most of the chase. Jacob Bethell scored his maiden T20I century and kept the contest alive. However, England eventually fell short in a high-scoring thriller. McCullum said he will take some time before assessing the team’s next steps. “Right now, after being on the road for a fair bit of time, it’s about getting home, watching some fast horses and playing some shocking golf.” He added that the team will soon reflect on what worked and what needs improvement. “A bit of time to reflect, to let things land and objectively look at what is and isn’t working. We will see what happens. I would love to help lead the team through to the next stage.”
