Mohun Bagan Super Giant, in pursuit of their first ever Indian Super League (ISL) League Winners Shield, suffered a massive setback as the Green and Maroon brigade from Kolkata suffered a 2-3 loss against visiting team Chennaiyin FC.
Mumbai City FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant find themselves in an intense battle for the ISL League Winners' Shield, the top award for winning the Indian Super League (ISL) league phase.
Going into the match against Chennaiyin FC tonight, the Green and Maroon team had an advantage against their rivals Mumbai City FC. Mohun Bagan had a match in hand and winning that would have helped them leapfrog Mumbai City FC to the top of the table.
However, Owen Coyle's Chennaiyin FC came to Kolkata as a party crusher for the home team, giving them a 2-3 defeat in the absence of their head coach Antonio Lopez Habas, who missed the match on the sidelines because of illness.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant took the lead with Joni Kauko's goal at the 29th minute. But a resurgent Chennaiyin FC put the foot on the throttle in the 2nd half. Jordan Murray scored the equalizing goal at the 72nd minute while Ryan Edwards gave Chennaiyin FC the lead in the 80th minute.
Mohun Bagan's Dimitri Petratos scored from the penalty spot to equalize in the added time, but them going for the win allowed Irfan Yadwad to score the match winning goal at the 90+7 minute off a counter-attack having Mohun Bagan put their men forward while going for the win. With that goal frok Irfan, Chennaiyin FC sealed a much needed away victory by 2-3 scoreline.
After this defeat for the Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Mumbai City FC remain at the top of the league table and now have a 2 points lead. Mumbai have 41 points while Mohun Bagan have 39 points, both teams having played 19 matches and 3 matches remaining for both the clubs. But, there is still hope for Mohun Bagan Super Giant to win the ISL League Winners' Shield, how? Let's see.
How can Mohun Bagan Super Giant win the ISL League Winners' Shield?
Both Mumbai City FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant have 3 matches left, in one of the matches, both the teams go up against each on the final day of the season. But before that, Mumbai City FC plays Hyderabad FC on the 1st of April and then Odisha FC on the 8th April. Meanwhile Mohun Bagan go up against Punjab FC on the 6th April and Bengaluru FC on the 11th April. The last match of the season between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Mumbai City FC will be played on the 15th of March.
Now for Mohun Bagan Super Giant to win, obviously they have to win their matches, but also hope that Mumbai City FC slip-up somewhere in their matches against Hyderabad FC or Odisha FC. In case Mumbai City FC draw one of their match and win one, they will have 45 points and if Mohun Bagan win both matches, they will have 44 points, that means the Mumbai City FC vs Mohun Bagan Super Giant match will decide the champion.
Now, incase Mumbai City FC loses one match and win one match, they will have 44 points and if Mohun Bagan win both the matches, both the teams will be level on points into the final match of the season facing each other. In all scenarios, Mohun Bagan Super Giant cannot afford to lose.
How can Mohun Bagan Super Giant win the League Winners' Shield before the last match vs Mumbai City FC?
Now, there is still a way that Mohun Bagan Super Giant can win the League Winners' Shield before the last matchday if Mumbai City FC loses both their matches and Mohun Bagan Super Giant win both their matches. In that scenario, going into the last match, Mumbai City FC will still have 41 points and Mohun Bagan after winning both their matches, will have 45 points, 4 points lead going into the last match against Mumbai City FC, which seems unlikely as Mumbai will be taking on Hyderabad FC's all Indian lineup of young players in their next match, where a win is guaranteed for the Islanders.
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