India Super League: Mohun Bagan thrash Mohammedan Sporting 3-0

Mohun Bagan crushed city rivals Mohammed Sporting riding on three first-half strikes from Jamie Maclaren, Subhasish Bose and Greg Stewart in the less fancied 'Kolkata Derby' here on Saturday.

In Short

• Mohun Bagan beat Mohammedan SC 3-0 at the Salt Lake Stadium
• Maclaren, Subhasish and Stewart scored the winning goals
• Mohammedan SC looked totally out of sorts in the first half

Mohun Bagan asserted their dominance in a one-sided encounter, defeating city rivals Mohammedan Sporting 3-0 in the much-anticipated Kolkata Derby of the Indian Super League. The reigning champions bounced back from their earlier loss with a commanding performance, capitalizing on three first-half goals from Jamie Maclaren, Subhasish Bose, and Greg Stewart.

The Mariners were off to a flying start, with Australian striker Maclaren heading home the opener in just the 8th minute. The goal came courtesy of a well-executed corner, as Greg Stewart floated the ball towards Maclaren, who made no mistake in nodding it past Mohammedan goalkeeper Padam Chhetri.

Riding high on the early breakthrough, Mohun Bagan pushed forward relentlessly, applying immense pressure on Mohammedan’s midfield and forcing multiple errors. The reigning champions displayed fluid passing and cohesive attacks, with their formidable frontline of Liston Colaco, Manvir Singh, Maclaren, and Stewart leading the charge.

The pressure soon paid off again. In the 31st minute, Stewart delivered a pinpoint free-kick into the penalty box, where Subhasish Bose rose above the defense to power in a header, doubling Bagan's advantage. Mohammedan Sporting, struggling to find any rhythm, were left on the back foot as the Mariners took control of the game.

The onslaught continued just five minutes later when Stewart turned from provider to scorer. After winning possession in midfield, the Scottish midfielder surged forward, driving at the heart of Mohammedan’s defense before unleashing a vicious strike into the bottom left corner, sealing a 3-0 lead before halftime.

Greg Stewart's masterclass performance was a major highlight of the game. The 34-year-old midfielder, renowned for his stints at Jamshedpur FC and Mumbai City FC, orchestrated the play in midfield, exploiting the space left by Mohammedan Sporting’s disjointed defense. His set-piece precision, vision, and creativity were on full display, drawing plaudits from all corners.

Having struggled in the Durand Cup final and the ISL opener against Mumbai City FC, Mohun Bagan showed no signs of vulnerability this time. They dictated the tempo of the match, and even when they eased off in the second half, they remained in control.

The game’s tactical battle was tilted heavily in favor of Bagan, with Stewart’s set-pieces creating opportunities and their defense stifling any threat posed by Mohammedan. Subhasish Bose’s aerial prowess and Jamie Maclaren’s sharp movements added to Sporting’s woes.

Sporting coach Andrey Chernyshov, visibly frustrated, conceded post-match: “This was like high school students showing those in the kindergarten how to play.” Mohammedan had no answers to the reigning champions' tactics, leaving them to rue missed opportunities and defensive lapses.

The 40,000 fans at Salt Lake Stadium, who had braved heavy rain and pre-Puja traffic, were treated to a memorable display of dominance. The Mariners will now head into the international break with renewed confidence, as they prepare for their next big fixture — the historic Kolkata Derby against East Bengal on October 19.