Mohun Bagan pip Mumbai City to win maiden ISL League Shield

A dominant Mohun Bagan defeated Mumbai City FC 21 to win their maiden ISL League Shield here on MondayListon Colaco 28th Jason Cummings 80th struck for Mohun Bagan while Lallianzuala Chhangte struck for Mumbai City FC against the run of play in the 89th minute when he converted a freekick from Yoell Van NieffThis was Mohun Bagans first victory over the twotime Shield Winners across four seasons as the Mumbai heavyweights were also unbeaten over them in previous eight matches winning six of themThe win also sealed their berth in the AFC Champions League 2 for the first time as 60000 chanted Mohun Bagan Mohun Bagan reverberated across the Salt Lake Stadium standsThis marked the conclusion of the League stage as the competition now moves to playoffs of six teams that begin from April 19Also Read A derby not for the faintheartedThe toptwo teams Mohun Bagan and Mumbai City will directly play the semifinals while the sides from third to sixth Goa Odisha Kerala Blasters and Chennaiyin will play single leg playoff in a knockout format to determine the other two semifinalistsThe ISL summit clash will be on May 4Mohun Bagan also had a special guest in KL Rahul skipper of their sister IPL franchise Lucknow Super Giants to cheer for themThere was more drama in store as Mohun Bagan were reduced to 10 players soon after when Brendan Hamill was sent off following his second yellow after a goalmouth meleeReferee signalled 10 minutes of stoppage time as the Antonio Lopezcoached side put up a brave front to see through it to seal the dealThe Subhasish Bosemanned defence also stood tall throughout the match as they played in unison thwarting every attack by the Mumbai menThe win also capped a double delight for Mohun Bagan who began the season winning the Durand CupIt followed by archrivals East Bengals Super Cup win while the other of the Big Three Mohammedan Sporting made it a triple treat for the Maidan winning the ILeague thus earning a berth for the ISL next seasonThe icing on the cake came at the Salt Lake Stadium when Mohun Bagan were crowned the Shield winners making it four titles by the Kolkata Maidan this seasonLess than a year after he scored in Central Coast Mariners ALeague win the Australian forward struck again for the Kolkata Mariners that almost sealed the deal giving them 20 lead with 10 minutes left on the clockLike he had set up Colacos opening goal with an assist Dimitri Petratos was again in the thick of things as he delivered an accurate pass for Cummings inside the box to hit into the bottom cornerEarier it was the India centreforward Colacos brilliant strike that had given the Mariners lead in front of a sellout crowdAbhishek Suryawanshi passed it on to Petratos who dribbled in the midfield to set it up Colaco on the edge of the box in the left flankColaco beat two defenders before striking it past Phurba Lachenpa to make amends for his earlier miss when his 20th minute struck off the postWith PTI inputs