Mohun Bagan SG come up short in the ISL 2025-26 title race despite a thrilling win over SC Delhi

Mohun Bagan SG came from a goal down against SC Delhi

Luck deserted Mohun Bagan SG as they failed to reclaim their 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) title despite grabbing a thrilling 2-1 win over SC Delhi in the final game of the campaign.

Despite their victory over SC Delhi, East Bengal winning their game against Inter Kashi meant that the Torchbearers claimed the ISL title on the basis of a higher goal difference.

Missed chances in the first half

The odds were stacked against them as the Mariners started with a star-studded, attacking line-up that saw Dimitri Petratos, Jason Cummings and Jamie Maclaren all get on the frontline. The Kolkata giants, however, nearly suffered an early scare as a powerful shot from Mohammed Aimen in the 4th minute rattled the post.

After that, the Mariners settled into the game and started making things happen in the opposition half. Mehtab Singh saw a few weak efforts thwarted in the first half. Manvir Singh also had an effort saved in the 40th minute. However, it was Jason Cummings who managed the biggest chances of the first half in the final minutes.

In the 42nd minute, he got at the end of an opportunity with only the goalkeeper to beat – but saw his effort thwarted by Nora Fernandes. Five minutes after that in added time, he had another golden opportunity but somehow flared a shot inches away from goal over the bar!

A thrilling second half

Mohun Bagan realized that they needed to win the game in the second half, especially as East Bengal was trailing in their game at that point. However, SC Delhi started coming back to the game and hurting the exhausted Mohun Bagan players on the transitions. In the 63rd minute, a cross into the box was powerfully headed by Clarence Fernandes – who put his side ahead by ousting Vishal Kaith.

The panic button was hit at Mohun Bagan, who realized that East Bengal equalized in their game and they needed to win. The Mariners kept pouring men forward, with the likes of Robson Robinho also being brought into the fray. That helped the Mariners keep creating more chances to exhaust the SC Delhi defenders.

Right as it appeared that the Mariners were heading towards a loss,  they got their leveller in the 90th minute when an inviting cross from Liston Colaco was converted by Manvir Singh. Then, in the 9th minute of stoppage time, Jamie Maclaren struck a shot from an awkward angle inside the box to score his 10th goal of the campaign and secure a 2-1 win for Mohun Bagan.

Unfortunately for Sergio Lobera’s men, they realized that East Bengal won their game – meaning they claimed the title on goal difference. Mohun Bagan’s inability to win their last three games prior to them ended up coming back to haunt them, ending their dreams of winning their third straight ISL title.

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