Mohun Bagan Secures Victory Over Mohammedan with Three Goals Despite Playing with Ten Men, thanks to Liston Colaco's Brilliant Performance in Durand Cup 2025
Mohun Bagan Super Giant kicked off their Durand Cup campaign with a 3-1 victory over Mohammedan Sporting at the Salt Lake Stadium. The win marks a strong start for the team, who are aiming to build on their success in the Indian Super League (ISL).
Interim coach Bastab Roy guided Mohun Bagan during the Durand Cup match, with the team fielding a developmental side. Despite the absence of their foreign recruits, the team demonstrated a solid performance, with key contributions from Kashmiri striker Suhail Bhat and Liston Colaco.
Suhail scored a goal for Mohun Bagan, assisted by Liston Colaco, in the 63rd minute. Liston himself doubled the lead in the 23rd and 90+5 minutes, converting a penalty late into stoppage time to complete his brace. Mohammedan Sporting's only goal was scored by Ashley Koli in the 49th minute.
The victory brings relief to Mohun Bagan after their recent 2-3 defeat to East Bengal. However, the team was reduced to 10 men in the 43rd minute when Apuia was sent off with a straight red card for retaliation. Despite this, Mohun Bagan dominated the game, with Lalthankima's shot being parried by Vishal Kaith, who wore the captain's armband for the team.
Unfortunately, Suhail Bhat suffered an ankle injury in stoppage time and had to be taken off the field. The team will be hoping for a speedy recovery, as head coach Jose Molina is expected to arrive in the second week of August.
In the meantime, the team can take pride in their strong start to the Durand Cup, which reinvigorates their competitive momentum ahead of domestic league campaigns. The Durand Cup has seen the resurgence of ISL clubs actively participating since 2021, using it as a pre-season proving ground for team development and tactical assessments.
References:
- Mohun Bagan win Durand Cup 2021
- Mohun Bagan's Durand Cup 2021 performance
- Mohun Bagan's ISL 2021-22 finish
- Historical context of ISL clubs in Durand Cup
- Mohun Bagan's 2025–26 season data
In light of Mohun Bagan's 3-1 victory over Mohammedan Sporting in the Durand Cup, the team is eager to carry the momentum into European-leagues and the Premier-League, having demonstrated a strong performance even with their foreign recruits absent. The win, rendered more crucial following their 2-3 defeat to East Bengal beforehand, was achieved through key contributions from Kashmiri striker Suhail Bhat and Liston Colaco, the latter scoring twice (in the 23rd and 90+5 minutes) and assisting Suhail's goal in the 63rd minute, despite Suhail's unfortunate ankle injury during stoppage time and the team being reduced to 10 men when Apuia was sent off with a straight red card. The team eagerly awaits head coach Jose Molina's arrival in the second week of August. The Durand Cup, with ISL clubs actively participating since 2021, provides valuable pre-season opportunities for team development and tactical assessments, serving as a stepping stone to the upcoming domestic league campaigns. [Mohun Bagan's Durand Cup 2021 performance, Historical context of ISL clubs in Durand Cup]
