Kolkata, February 14 – Defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant began their Indian Super League campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Kerala Blasters in the season opener at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharathi Krirangan here on Saturday.
Jamie Maclaren scored in the 36th minute, and Tom Aldred added the second in the 90+6th minute, securing the three points for Mohun Bagan.
Mohun Bagan SG coach Sergio Lobera fielded a strong team, with familiar players like Dimi Petratos, Jamie Maclaren, and Alberto Rodriguez starting.
New signings Mehtab Singh, Robson Da Silva, and Amey Ranawade also featured in the squad.
Meanwhile, David Catala opted for a younger lineup, with Oumar Ba and Victor Bertomeu making their ISL debuts alongside midfielders Y Ebindas and Rowllin Borges.
Mohun Bagan dominated the first half, with Anirudh Thapa and Lalengmawia Ralte (Apuia) controlling the midfield, allowing Robson and Liston Colaco to create attacking opportunities.
Petratos almost scored early, finding Maclaren inside the box, but his shot went wide.
Despite dominating possession, Mohun Bagan struggled to break down Kerala Blasters' defense.
Maclaren finally broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute, with Petratos finding him inside the box, and Maclaren finished with a composed left-footed shot.
Mohun Bagan led 1-0 at halftime, having had 10 shots on goal with six on target.
Catala made two changes at the start of the second half, bringing in Naocha Singh and Marlon Trujillo, while Subhasish Bose replaced Amey Ranawade.
Mohun Bagan continued to control possession, forcing Kerala Blasters to defend deep in their own half.
Kerala Blasters became more dangerous in the final quarter, with Kevin Yoke showing his pace and dribbling skills, but could not create clear-cut chances against Vishal Kaith in goal.
Mohun Bagan sealed the victory in injury time, with substitute Tom Aldred scoring a powerful header from Anirudh Thapa's free-kick past Sachin Suresh.
Jamie Maclaren was named Player of the Match.
Relegation to be implemented in ISL for the first time
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The All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed that the bottom-placed team will be relegated to the second tier Indian Football League (IFL). The winning team of the IFL will be promoted to the ISL next season.
"Relegation has been introduced for the first time in the ISL, where the bottom-ranked team will be relegated to the Indian Football League, while the champions of the IFL will be promoted to the top division," the AIFF said in a release.
"The club crowned champions of the 12th Indian Super League will gain entry to the AFC Champions League Two Preliminary Round next season."
The second tier I-League was rechristened Indian Football League (IFL) from this season onwards and will kick-start on February 21.
The truncated and delayed ISL will be played in 11 venues across 10 states including the VYBK and the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, where Sporting Club Delhi and Punjab FC will play their home matches.
The Mumbai Football Arena in Mumbai, PJN Stadium in Fatorda, Goa, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati, Sri Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai, JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur, and the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar will host various matches in the ISL this season.
AIFF Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan said, "After all the noise off the field, we are finally kicking things off on the field, which makes it a moment of celebration. Football is back on the ground, which is what everyone in the fraternity wanted."
AIFF Leagues Chief Operating Officer Akshay Rohatgi said, "This is historic in the sense that in keeping with the Supreme Court judgement, the AIFF will be operating it on their own for the first time. The principle of promotion and relegation will also be seen for the first time, again in alignment with the Honourable Court's orders.
"We had the handicap of time with only 38 days at our disposal, but even then and thanks to the tremendous support received from the clubs, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and the respective State Governments, we believe we will be able to deliver to the fans what they want."
