Is it not a derby? The Mariners’ immersive presence begs to differ. The mini derby lived up to the definitions of vigor and persistence. Mohun Bagan Super Giants threshed Mohammedan Sporting Club by a humiliating 5-1 margin.
MSC didn’t hold back their competitive stance. As they kicked off the opening goal of the match at just the 12th minute with Lalthankima with a stunning assist from Lalngaihsak. Sadly the goal book stopped after the opening. However, Gourav Bora’s commanding presence and energy through out the match is remarkable.
Mohun Bagan started their netting a little later from MSC however they didn’t consider a hold. MBSG took the lead with Robson’s consecutive brace. Robson opened the goal book from MBSG with 21st minute into the, not much later his second goal came at just 27th minute. However, he got injured and had to leave the match on stretcher.
The two quick goals shifted the rhythm entirely. The Mariners settled into their stride, controlling possession and forcing Mohammedan deeper into their own half. The equaliser had sparked belief; the second strike injected authority.
In the 35th minute, the lead stretched further. Amey delivered a dangerous cross into the centre and Cummings rose to meet it with a firm header. Subhajit reacted sharply to parry the initial effort, but the rebound fell straight to Maclaren, who made no mistake from close range. From that point on, the contest began tilting decisively in one direction.
After the restart, Mohun Bagan refused to ease off. Their movement off the ball and precision in delivery continued to trouble MSC’s backline. In the 62nd minute, Abhishek floated a beautifully weighted ball into the box. Manvir timed his run to perfection, diving forward to connect with a header that found the net. It was his first goal of the ISL 2025-26 season and a testament to the attacking cohesion on display.
The fifth arrived in the 70th minute and it was crafted with vision. Petratos noticed Subhajit slightly off his line as the ball bounced invitingly in front of him. Without hesitation, he went for goal. The strike was audacious and perfectly judged, sailing over the keeper, brushing the woodwork and rattling the net to complete the rout.
There was nearly another addition to the scoreline. Petratos slipped a delightful pass into the path of Maclaren, who controlled it superbly and opened his body to aim for the far corner. This time, Subhajit stretched out an arm to deny him, preventing further damage.
What began as a competitive mini derby ultimately turned into a commanding exhibition from the Mariners. With the massive win MBSG climbs up to their known place as the forerunner of the ISL table.
