Mohun Bagan pip Mumbai City to win maiden League Shield



Mohun Bagan Super Giant players celebrate after beating Mumbai City FC in the last league match.



KOLKATA: As referee Venkatesh R blew the final whistle, the entire Mohun Bagan SG bench huddled around Antonio Lopez Habas, hugging and exchanging high fives with him. In the middle of the Salt Lake Stadium, Manvir Singh, Liston Colaco, Dimitri Petratos and others began dancing and jumping in joy.
It was party time for Mohun Bagan, the new winners of the Indian Super Leagues coveted Shield.


It was their tryst with history. They won the championship last season but their trophy cabinet was missing the ISL Shield still considered the real big prize after the end of a home-and-away league.
It was quite a statement of intent made by Habas team in achieving that goal as they pipped Mumbai City FC to the post with a 2-1 win, thus topping ISL 2023-2024 group stage as winners and conquering the throne of Indian domestic football in style.

Goals from Liston Colaco (20th minute) and second half substitute Jason Cummings (80) set the green-and-maroon brigade to a comfortable lead. Although Lallianzuala Chhangte reduced the margin in the stoppage time (90+2), it was not enough for Petr Kratkys visitors, who needed at least a draw to defend the Shield.
Mohun Bagan finished the league this term with 48 points from 22 matches, a point ahead of Mumbai City and with a place guaranteed in the AFC Champions League 2.
It was a tale of many firsts for Mohun Bagan. Their maiden Shield-winning triumph since the award was introduced in the 2019-2020 season came on the back of their first win against Mumbai City in nine meetings.