In a thrilling semifinal match at Salt Lake Stadium, Sahal Abdul Samad emerged as the hero for Mohun Bagan Super Giant, scoring a dramatic stoppage-time winner against Odisha FC. The 62,000-strong home crowd erupted in joy as Samad’s goal secured a 2-0 victory for Mohun Bagan in the second leg, overturning the aggregate score in their favor and booking a spot in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 final.
The defending champions showed great determination and tactical prowess throughout the match, with Jason Cummings opening the scoring in the 22nd minute after a well-worked move involving Anirudh Thapa and Liston Colaco. Despite Odisha’s best efforts to find an equalizer, Mohun Bagan’s defense held firm, with Hector Yuste making a crucial goal-line clearance to deny the opposition.
As the game seemed destined for extra time, Manvir Singh’s blistering run down the left flank created chaos in the Odisha defense, leading to Samad’s decisive goal in the dying moments of the match. The victory sets up a tantalizing final clash for Mohun Bagan against the winner of the second semifinal between Mumbai City FC and FC Goa on May 4.
With the League Shield already in their cabinet, Mohun Bagan Super Giant now has the chance to achieve a historic tournament double, much to the delight of their passionate supporters. The stage is set for a thrilling finale as the Kolkata giants aim to etch their name in ISL history once again.