ISL 2023-24: Mohun Bagan SG rides on Sahal’s winner to enter final, beats Odisha 3-2 on aggregate

Sahal Abdul Samad’s stoppage time goal helped Mohun Bagan Super Giant beat Odisha FC 3-2 on aggregate, as it made it to consecutive finals, at the Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday.

Sahal Abdul Samad got the ball after it ricocheted off Amrinder Singh, and scored the winning goal for Mohun Bagan Super Giants in their second leg of the Indian Super League (ISL) semifinal against Odisha FC at the Salt Lake Stadium. | Photo Credit: FSDL/ ISL Media

Sahal Abdul Samad became a hero for 62000-strong home supporters at Salt Lake Stadium as he came off the bench to net the winner in stoppage time for Mohun Bagan Super Giant.

The League Shield winner realized the possibility of winning a tournament double as it reached the final of Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24, beating Odisha 2-0 in the second leg of the semifinal, turning the two-match aggregate score in its favour (3-2).

This was the second consecutive entry in the knockout final for defending champion Mohun Bagan. It will face the winner of the second semifinal between Mumbai City FC and FC Goa in the title clash at the same venue on May 4.

AS IT HAPPENED: Mohun Bagan Super Giant vs Odisha FC, semifinal second leg highlights

Needing to win by a two-goal margin, Mohun Bagan did its homework well, finding the lead in the 22nd minute when Jason Cummings slotted home a rebound after the Odisha goalkeeper Amrinder Singh had blocked Dimitri Petratos’ powerful attempt from the edge of the box.

The build-up started with Anirudh Thapa sending a precise diagonal cross to Liston Colaco, who controlled the ball well and set up Petratos.

Odisha, which led the aggregate 2-1, having won its home match on April 23, made several attempts to find the equaliser and maintain the lead but could not breach Mohun Bagan’s defence.

The best of Odisha’s chances came midway through the second half when Isak Vanlalruatfela almost got the ball in but Hector Yuste cleared it from the line.

Manvir Singh came to Mohun Bagan’s rescue again towards the end of the regulation to deny Isak another chance to tap home the equaliser.

Mohun Bagan tried to preserve energy and balanced its attacks in short spells of counterattacks, the best of which came midway through the second half.

Yuste flicked a Petratos corner, forcing a save by Amrinder. Both Colaco and Manvir then came threateningly close to the Odisha FC goal twice but failed to find the desired finish.

As the match wore on towards a possible extra-time with the two teams tied 2-2 on aggregate, Manvir changed the complexion of the game, making a searing run through the left and firing a cross which Amrinder failed to clear.

The ball rebounded off the Odisha goalkeeper and hit the head of Sahal, who then made sure it ended at the back of the net to the delight of the Mohun Bagan faithful.

The result:

Semifinal 1 (leg 2): Mohun Bagan 2 (Cummings 22, Samad 90+3).