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Mohun Bagan easily defeated Gokulam Kerala:
Mohun Bagan showcased an impressive performance in their opening match of Group B in the IFA Shield 2025, easily defeating Gokulam Kerala with a score of 5-1. A significant number of Mohun Bagan supporters expressed their disappointment towards the management for not traveling to Iran for the recent ACL 2 match. In response, the players aimed to win back the affection of these fans through their outstanding performance.
The group stage encounter between Mohun Bagan and Gokulam Kerala took place at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan. Coach Jose Molina was cautious at the start of the match, opting to field four foreign players in the starting lineup: Alberto Rodriguez, Tom Aldred, Robson Robinho, and Jamie Maclaren. The attacking display from Mohun Bagan was quite remarkable, with Robson Robinho delivering an exceptional performance, showcasing his samba flair.
First-half highlights:
Mohun Bagan took a 2-0 lead by halftime. The first goal came in the 11th minute when Alberto Rodriguez scored with a header from a corner taken by Robson Robinho. The second goal followed in the 27th minute, with Jamie Maclaren executing a brilliant volley assisted by Robson Robinho. Although Mohun Bagan created numerous scoring chances in the first half, they were unable to extend their lead. The halftime score stood at Mohun Bagan 2 – Gokulam Kerala 0.
Second-half highlights:
At the start of the second half, Mohun Bagan unfortunately allowed an own goal in the 48th minute of the game. When Mohun Bagan midfielder Apuia attempted to clear the ball, his miskick sailed over the head of goalkeeper Vishal Kaith and into the net. Following this unexpected goal, Mohun Bagan appeared to adopt a more aggressive approach. In the 51st minute, Alberto Rodriguez netted Mohun Bagan’s third goal and his second of the match. In this instance, Mohun Bagan executed a variation of a corner, with Alberto Rodriguez heading in Robson Robinho’s cross. Mohun Bagan’s fourth goal was scored in the 54th minute. Robson Robinho’s shot from within the penalty box struck the post, ricocheted off Gokulam Kerala’s goalkeeper Shibinraj, and found its way into the net. Even after this, Mohun Bagan continued to launch attack after attack. In the 75th minute, Jamie Maclaren scored Mohun Bagan’s fifth goal and his second of the match. Jamie Maclaren finished expertly after receiving a pass from Abhishek Singh inside the penalty area. Throughout the second half, Mohun Bagan squandered several scoring chances, and the goal count remained unchanged. Ultimately, Mohun Bagan delivered a stellar performance in this match, defeating Gokulam Kerala with a score of 5-1.
Mohun Bagan’s next match:
Mohun Bagan is set to play their second and final group stage match against United SC on October 15, 2025. If Mohun Bagan performs similarly to their display in this match, they are likely to secure a victory in the upcoming game. Thus, it appears that the Mohun Bagan-East Bengal derby will be featured in the final of the IFA Shield.
I have uploaded a video on YouTube in Bengali related to the topic discussed in this blog, and you can find the link to that video here: