Mohammedan SC beats Shillong Lajong to win maiden I-League title, joins Mohun Bagan SG, East Bengal in ISL

Mohammedan Sporting’s lengthy wait to win its maiden I-League title lastly ended on Saturday, April 6, 2024, on the SSA Stadium when it defeated Shillong Lajong FC 2-1 within the away match.

The Black and White Brigade, thus secured promotion to the Indian Tremendous League, supplied they meet the licensing standards.

The facet from Kolkata has now garnered an unassailable 52 factors from 23 matches; its closest rivals, Sreenidi Deccan FC, is eight factors behind with two video games to play.

Alexis Nahuel Gomez scored within the very first minute for the champion, as Douglas Rosa Tardin equalised within the fifteenth minute for the house group. Evgeni Kozlov scored the winner for Mohammedan within the second half, to safe the title.

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The equation was easy. Mohammedan Sporting wanted one level to safe its maiden I-League title. However it was by no means going to be a stroll within the park.

Shillong Lajong has had its moments this season however is firmly rooted as a mid-table facet at seventh within the I-League desk with 31 factors from 23 video games. However its added motivation to play spoilsport towards the highest canine was on ample show.

Mohammedan Sporting, for its half, did the bit that may have calmed its nerves, a minimum of within the opening exchanges. Its Argentine ahead Alexis Gomez produced a second of magic within the first minute itself, when he noticed Lajong keeper Neitho Chalieu off his line, and chopped it goalwards from simply contained in the midway mark, because the ball sailed over the goalkeeper’s head and nestled into the online.

The job appeared half accomplished, however so much might occur over 90 minutes, and from what ensued over the course of the remainder of the primary half, it was amply clear that one objective wouldn’t be sufficient for the Black and White Brigade.

It took Shillong only a quarter of an hour to get again into the sport, a Douglas Tardin penalty making it 1-1. It could nonetheless be sufficient for Mohammedan.

Nevertheless, their again 4 had their work lower out within the first half when Lajong piled the stress on the desk toppers. Tardin and Phrangki Buam, a former Mohammedan Sporting participant himself, hit the woodwork.

In one other blow for Mohammedan Sporting, its goalscorer Gomez hobbled off injured, solely to get replaced by Kozlov.

Lajong proper again Ronney Wilson Kharbudon had the proper alternative to place his facet within the lead, when Tardin performed a ball throughout the face of the objective, and the previous solely needed to faucet it into an empty internet. The Mohammedan camp heaved a sigh of reduction when he side-footed it inches extensive.

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Padam Chettri, Mohammedan Sporting’s goalkeeper, who has had a stellar season, pulled off a superb save to keep up parity simply earlier than the half-time break, as he palmed away a shot by Marcos Rudwere from point-blank vary.

The house facet began with the identical tempo within the second half, however the desk topper managed the scenario effectively. It stayed again and waited for the chance that quickly offered itself.

Kozlov, who had come on as a first-half substitute, latched on to a clearance and located himself contained in the field with simply the keeper to beat, which he subsequently did. Lastly, some respiration area for the Black and White Brigade.

Making it a collective effort by the group, the Mohammedan Sporting defenders put in an absolute shift in harm time. Joseph Adjei confirmed some sensible anticipation to place himself beside keeper Chettri as Lajong’s Kynsaibor Lhud pulled the set off. Adjei merely booted the trouble away, to safe Mohammedan’s fifteenth win of the season.