Pratyusha Jana:
Mehtab Singh’s winner in the tie-breaker guided Mohun Bagan Super Giants to clinch the IFA Shield after a span of 22 years, defeating arch-rivals East Bengal in the tie-breaker by 5-4 at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday. Before Mehtab, Robson Robinho, Manveer Singh, Liston Colaco, and Petratos scored for MBSG, while East Bengal scorers were Miguel, Kevin Sibille, Mahesh Singh, and Jay Gupta.
The 90 minutes’ regulation time and 30 minutes’ stoppage time ended 1-1. Hamid Ahadad drew first blood for the Red-and-Gold brigade in the 36th minute, while Apuia equalized for MBSG in the three minutes’ stoppage time of the first half.
Otherwise, the story of the season’s third Kolkata Derby featured a missed penalty, several missed chances. The nail-biting battle was vivid till the end of the extra time. Both teams fought hard, displayed an attacking brand of football, but missed chances, and some inspiring saves from both the custodians kept the score line 1-1 till the end.
East Bengal fans might have been expecting some magic on the day from their Japanese surprise, Hiroshi Ibusiki whose first match was Saturday’s Derby. He almost gave his team the desired lead in the 67th minute, executed an accurate header of Miguel free-kick, but MBSG custodian Vishal Kaith thwarted with a clinical save off the header.
Mohun Bagan’s lead also might have been solidified in the 34th minute, if not for Cummings’s missed penalty. After the break, the Australian forward goes down by Anwar Ali, giving a penalty point to Ali. However, Cummings missed the penalty as Gill caught it without any trouble.
In the second minute, Rashid passed Mahesh on his left, who drove the ball into the final third. Mahesh delivered a low cross that the Moroccan pounced on, neatly guiding it into the net. With Kaith stepping out, the Bagan defense was left exposed.
The second half came with many significant changes, although none could transform the match’s course. From EBFC’s side, P V Vishnu came, taking the place of Edmund in the 51st minute. Along with Jay Gupta, Hiroshi Ibusuki, Miguel, taking the field for Lalghungnunga, Hamid Ahadad, and Saul Crespo, respectively.
Quite shockingly, the Mariners stayed rigid on their protest. In the first half, it showed many tifos and chants; however, it went silent in the second half. Along with the banners and tifos were nowhere to be found.
However, at the 90+4’, the heartbeat of all was clearly audible, the free kick from Robson found Mehtab Singh. He rose and hit the ball towards the post, it hit Gill’s fingertips, and it changed the direction, saving East Bengal from their evident defeat. Clearly, it was the derby’s most thrilling save.
