Sunil Makes History Amid Mohun Bagan’s Kanteerava Nightmare, Bengaluru Dominates 3-0

Sayak Banerjee | 29-Sep 2024

Defensive woes continue to plague Mohun Bagan, a problem carried over from the Durand Cup to ISL. Yet, few expected such a humbling defeat at Bengaluru FC’s hands. The Mariners fell 3-0, exposing weaknesses not just in defense but also midfield and attack.

Kanteerava Stadium, once a fortress for Mohun Bagan, turned into a nightmare. Their triumphs here, including an I-League title and a 4-goal spree last ISL season, seemed like distant memories. The tone was set early when Sunil Chhetri’s long-range effort in the opening minutes established dominance.

Bengaluru capitalized on Mohun Bagan’s disarray. In the 9th minute, Mendez scored from a corner, unchallenged by defenders. By the second goal, scored by Suresh Singh following Mendez’s assist, the defense was non-existent.

Mohun Bagan’s attack lacked bite, with Dimitri’s free kick thwarted by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. In the 51st minute, Chhetri sealed Bengaluru’s win with a penalty, making him ISL’s all-time top scorer. Late efforts by Liston and Javi fell flat, leaving Bagan fans in despair.

Kolkata giants left Bengaluru with their first ISL loss of the season, facing questions about their form and strategy.