Convincing Mariners Thump Chennaiyin 2-0: Maclaren, Dimi on target

Image Credit: Debjoy Biswas

Mohun Bagan Super Giants took on Chennaiyin FC on Monday evening at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan for their second fixture of the season. Coming off a thumping victory over Kerala Blasters, the Mariners were looking to consolidate their perfect start while trying to keep in touch with their arch rivals on the points table. Chennaiyin were looking to open their account in the 2025-26 campaign on the other hand after going down narrowly in their opening fixture against Mumbai City. Both teams went in with an unchanged starting 11.

Mohun Bagan gainer their first corner in the 3rd minute through a Robson cross that was defended by Kotal. The ensuing corner did not have any fruitful effect. Liston Colaco surged through the defense in the 6th minute to come up with a penalty call that was waved off by the referee. But Mohun Bagan had surely started on the front foot. Chennaiyin were trying to create the width mainly through counter attack k through the wing with Irfan Yadwad as the main target.

Mohun Bagan were looking to control the midfield through the duo of Thapa and Apuia while Dimi Petratos dropped deep to create a triangle to open up the wingers. Abhimeitei and Colaco were creating the width on the right flank. This resulted in their second corner in the 12th minute. Robson took the corner and found Thapa on the left edge of the box. Thapa's shot was perfectly weighed from around 30 yards. The bolt of a strike narrowly missed the top corner.

The persistent pressure almost paid off on the 20th minute when Petratos took a shot from outside the box that was safely negotiated by the Chennaiyin Keeper Mohammed Nawaz.

Mohun Bagan looked smooth in transition creating a line of attack between Apuia Colaco and Dimi. This trip combined with Maclaren in the 26th minute to almost open it up for Dimi again before Nawaz cleared his lines in an acrobatic manner. In the follow up Mohun Bagan got a free kick that ended up finding Alberto after a scuffled between Nawaz and Mehtab. But the shot was blocked again by Kotal. Mohun Bagan was mounting a lot of pressure in the final third. But the Chennaiyin defense was able to deal with them thus far.

The first change of the match was a forced one in the 31st minute as Nawaz failed to recover from a head injury and had to be substituted off for Samik Mitra, the reserve Goalkeeper.

The defensive clearances kept finding Mohun Bagan players in the edge of the box as Thapa found a juicy ball in the 35th minute. But the precision was lacking again as Elsinho blocked the shot away easily this time.

Abhimeitei conceded the first yellow card of the match in the 36th minute for putting a hand on Irfan Yadwad's face.

Shortly afterwards Robson switched the play from left to find Colaco in acres of space on the right wing who cut back in and took a rather timid shot with his left foot in the 38th minute.

Mohun Bagan came the closest to scoring wo far in the 42nd minute. Another switch by Dimi this time found Liston in a lot of space again. Liston did his usual by cutting in. The curler hit the second post beyond Samik. Maclaren stucked his head out to get a touch which was deemed offside. The goal would not have stood has it got in. But Mohun Bagan kept coming closer to what looked inevitable- the opening goal.

At the crux of half time Mohun Bagan gainer a string of corners. They gained three consecutive corners in the 45th minute that the Chennaiyin defense defended with resilience. But Chennaiyin finally gained a chance of their own from the counter. Inigo forced Mehtab to concede a free kick just at the edge of the box on left. Bemammer put a dangerous ball in. Bu the Mohun Bagan defense stood strong this time.

The inevitable finally struck in the 4th added minute at the end of the first half. Maclaren, who was kept quiet for most of the half, made a surging run behind his marker. Anirudh Thapa found him with a precise through ball. Maclaren kept his cool to ensure a classical striker's finish by rolling the ball past a fast approaching Samik Mitra. Mohun Bagan scored with the last kick of the half literally to go into the half time with a much deserved 1-0 lead.

The second half started taking a cue from the attacking dominance of Mohun Bagan in the first half. Another cross field switch from Alberto found Liston in a lot of space again in the 47th minute. Maclaren almost opened it up for another goal twice in quick succession following this attack. But the Chennaiyin defense just about clung on to clear their lines.

Chennaiyin however got a corner in the 50th minute. But the attempt was a wasteful one with nothing concrete coming out of it. Chennaiyin looked clueless in creating anything in the attack.

Maclaren created another opening in the 52nd minute. Robson pulled the ball down for him. Maclaren swerved and took a sudden shot that went just wife of the bottom corner. Another chance went begging. It remained to be seen whether Mohun Bagan would be left ruing these near misses to create a cushion.

In stark contrast to the last two seasons, the Mohun Bagan team has looked way more fluid in attack this season so far. The mark of Sergio Lobera's smooth brand of football is there for everyone to see on the kind of game brought on by the defending champions.

On the 58 minute mark Chennaiyin made a triple change to put in some attacking reinforcement. The Brazilian E Kau was brought on to replace Inigo. Farukh Chowdhury replaced Imran Khan while Gurkirat Singh replaced Hnamte. The attackers had more than half an hour now to create some impact.

On the 65 minute mark however Mohun Bagan doubled their lead through the fan favourite Dimi Petratos. Subhasish Bose was putting in cross after cross in the second half. This time a similar cross found an overlapping Dimi after brushing the head of Pritam Kotal. Samik put his hand to the ball. But it was not strong enough as the strike virtually went through him to double the lead for the defending champions. They now had the much desired 2 goal cushion.

The Subhasish Dimi link up play was now looking more ominous with each passing minute. Another link up play between them saw Dimi find some space in the box on the 70 minute mark. His volley went just wife of the post. The goalkeeper was left stranded with nothing but prayer at his disposal.

The pace of the game now slowed down a bit. Mohun Bagan now made a triple change of their own on the 78ty minute. Amey Ranawade was brought on for Subhasish. Abhimeitei slotted in the Left Back position with Ranawade coming in the Right Back spot. Manvir Singh replaced Robson in the attack. While Tom Aldred was brought on in the Centre Back position to replace Mehtab Singh. Another change was made in the 82nd minute bringing Cummings on to replace Maclaren. A like for like substitution in the attack. Lobera completed his quota of substitutions in the 85th minute by bringing on Sahal Abdul Samad to replace Liston Colaco.

The rest of the match was being played out with a surprising lack of intent. But Gurkirat suddenly found himself open in from of the goal in the 89th minute. But the effort went past a diving Kaith and also beyond the post.

A match came to an end on an expected and convincing note. The defending champions have flexed their prowess twice in two matches by keeping a double clean sheet and scoring 2 goals each. Thapa has assisted twice in two matches and Maclaren has scored twice. Dimi has opened his account early in the season. Mohun Bagan join their arch rivals East Bengal at the top of the table only to be separated on Goal Difference. The season has begun on a convincing note for the double champions. They would look to take this form forward and continue the same run.