Did you know that, across eleven seasons of the Indian Super League, the most goals scored by any player in a single season is 18? This feat has been achieved by not one, but two players who have etched themselves in the ISL history books.

The illustrious history of the top-division football competition in India has witnessed some of the most prolific foreigners grace the fields, as well as Indian players dominating the charts. 

ISL has also seen many sublime goalscorers who have not only elevated themselves as the most important marksman but also helped their team achieve great success throughout the years.

In a fast-paced tournament like the ISL, goals work as the lifeblood of the matches. Every goal usually changes the course of the game but in a league such as ISL, every goal can change the scenario of a whole season.

This article explores footballers like Ferran Corominas, Bartholomew Ogbeche, and many others who have scored the most goals in a season and dominated the goalscoring charts across seasons.

Historical Overview of ISL Stats

Since its inception, the Indian Super League has witnessed a fascinating evolution in scoring patterns over the years.

From thrilling comebacks to agonizing defeats, goals have provided countless unforgettable moments that have captivated fans across the nation. Various factors have re-defined the standards which helped in shaping the league's prominence.

For the first three seasons, ISL was contested between eight teams, and the number has gradually increased over the years. Different knock-out patterns and the league-shield system evolved the league, pushing the teams toward diverse accolades to acquire. 

These factors have mostly motivated the goalscorers to unleash their utmost capacity and help their team achieve the silverware. 

On the other hand, different coaches have diversified approaches for their tactics, which significantly affect the marksmen of the team. Tactical innovations and shifts have helped the players as well in increasing their goalscoring tally. 

Read Also | ISL Stats: Players with the most goals in ISL history

Players with the Most Goals in a Season

1. Ferran Corominas (Coro)

• Team: FC Goa
• Season: 2017–18
• Total Goals: 18
• Matches: 20

Notable Moments: On December 9th, 2017, Coro netted the fastest hat-trick in ISL history against Kerala Blasters during a 5-2 victory for Goa. 

The game was level at 2-2 at the break. However, the Spanish wizard took only 8 minutes in the second half to score a hat-trick and single-handedly win the game for the Gaurs.

 

 

 

 

 

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2. Bartholomew Ogbeche

• Team: Hyderabad FC
• Season: 2021–22
• Total Goals: 18
• Matches: 20

Notable Moments: Ogbeche led the Nizams to the club's first-ever Indian Super League cup victory in the 2021-22 season, winning the Golden Boot as well.

The Nigerian also became the first-ever ISL player to earn a place in the EA Sports FIFA 22 Team of the Season in the Rest of the World category.

Star power from even more of the world's top leagues 🌏💫

Introducing the #FIFA22 Rest of World Team of the Season. #FUT #TOTS pic.twitter.com/5dzd5oj3se

— EA SPORTS FC (@EASPORTSFC) June 4, 2022

3. Ferran Corominas (Coro)

• Team: FC Goa
• Season: 2018-19
• Total Goals: 16
• Matches: 20

Notable Moments: Coro became only the first-ever footballer to win the footballer ISL Golden Boot twice, after scoring a significant 16 goals for FC Goa in the 2018-19 campaign.

The Spaniard also won the Golden Ball award in the same season, for being the best player of the tournament.

The only player to score 🔟+ goals in 3⃣ consecutive #HeroISL seasons! 🧡

Ferran Corominas 👑
#TrueLove pic.twitter.com/pPPjNsZXdP

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) March 11, 2020

4. Alaaeddine Ajaraie* 

• Team: NorthEast United
• Season: 2024-25
• Total Goals: 15*
• Matches: 16*

Notable Moments: The Moroccan magician has been one of the most interesting players to watch this season so far, having scored in his first 8 consecutive matches to set a unique ISL record for being the first-ever player to do so.

He also became the fastest player to reach 10+ goals in a season, as he only took 8 matches.

His goalscoring tally may improve in the upcoming matches, and he may also break the record for most goals in a single ISL season.

#AlaaeddineAjaraie joins an 𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧 of #ISL Icons! 🔥#NEUFCG #LetsFootball #NorthEastUnitedFC | @NEUtdFC pic.twitter.com/ILESR3pIfl

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) January 14, 2025

5. Nerijus Valskis

• Team: Chennaiyin FC
• Season: 2019-20
• Total Goals: 15
• Matches: 20

Notable Moments: In the 2019-20 season, Valskis scored a brace in four of Chennaiyin FC’s league games. His impact was visibly significant as during the league stage, Chennaiyin FC remained undefeated in every match where the Lithuanian entered his name on the scoresheet.

1⃣5⃣ Goals ✅
6⃣ Assists ✅
Runner-up in the #HeroISL ✅@NValskis not only won the Golden Boot award but gave us all a season to remember 👏 pic.twitter.com/3qq5bL5cUG

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) May 5, 2020

6. Igor Angulo 

• Team: FC Goa
• Season: 2020-21
• Total Goals: 14
• Matches: 21

Notable Moments: The Spaniard won the Golden Boot in his maiden season in India, proving himself a great successor to Ferran Corominas in FC Goa.

Presenting you 2020/21 @IndSuperLeague Golden Boot winner! 🤩#RiseAgain #HeroISL pic.twitter.com/Kukna24lQ9

— FC Goa (@FCGoaOfficial) March 13, 2021

7. Stiven Mendoza

• Team: Chennaiyin FC
• Season: 2015
• Total Goals: 13
• Matches: 16

Notable Moments: The 2015 ISL Final remained iconic for only one man, named Stiven Mendoza. The Colombian forced Goa's keeper Kattimani to score an own goal in the last minutes of the game, while his side Chennaiyin FC was trailing by 1-2. 

Following that, Mendoza scored the winner in the dying minutes to hand Chennaiyin its first-ever ISL title, marking one of the greatest individual performances in an ISL final.

He became the first and one of the only two players to lift the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot in a single ISL season.

#DidYouKnow ❓@ChennaiyinFC's former star @Stiven20Mendoza and @FCGoaOfficial's Ferran Corominas are the only two players in #HeroISL history to win the Golden Boot and Golden Ball in the same season!#LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/urnVAySEw0

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) August 16, 2019

8. Dimitrios Diamantakos 

• Team: Kerala Blasters FC
• Season: 2023-24
• Total Goals: 13
• Matches: 17

Notable Moments: Diamantakos won the Golden Boot after the most closely-contested race for the accolade as nine players scored 10+ goals in the 2023-24 season.

9. Diego Mauricio 

• Team: Odisha FC
• Season: 2022-23
• Total Goals: 12
• Matches: 21

Notable Moments: Mauricio helped Odisha FC to its first-ever knock-out qualification with his brilliance and goalscoring prowess.

10. Marcelinho 

• Team: Delhi Dynamos FC
• Season: 2016
• Total Goals: 10
• Matches: 15

Notable Moments: Marcelinho led the Delhi side to its first-ever ISL semi-final qualification after a sublime campaign studded with 10 goals, and 5 assists as well.

Although they missed out on the final after losing to Kerala in the semis, the Brazilian helped Delhi Dynamos to be one of the most dreaded sides in the 2016 Season.

11. Elano Blumer

• Team: Chennaiyin FC
• Season: 2014
• Total Goals: 8
• Matches: 11

Notable Moments: The Brazilian magician remains one of the best ISL players to grace the pitches across India, as he won the first-ever ISL Golden Boot.

Having scored 8 goals, Elano helped Chennaiyin finish the league stage atop the table and a semi-final finish afterward.

Top goalscorers in every ISL season 

Factors Contributing to High Goal-Scoring Seasons

Revamped format and more teams

The editions with high goal-scoring tallies have significant factors that elevated the flair in the Indian Super League.

The presence of talented individuals, dynamic tactical and attacking approaches, and the evolving structure of the league heavily influenced the goalscoring in the tournament over the years.

The evolved league structure is the foremost reason for the loads of goals in ISL for the last couple of years. The league started in 2014 with eight participating teams, and there was no league-shield system. Out of eight, four teams used to qualify for the semi-finals to clinch the cup in the showdown. 

From the 2017-18 season, the ISL expanded to 10 teams following Bengaluru FC and Jamshedpur FC's inclusion. However, no play-off system was introduced this season as the league continued with the previous knockout format until the 2021-22 season.

On the other hand, the league shield system was introduced in the 2019-20 season. In this system, the league that finishes atop the table is awarded a league shield after the regular season is over, to be called the league champions. The Cup winners were termed as the ISL Cup winners from then on.

However, ahead of the 2022-23 season, the ISL format faced a significant revamping. The league adopted a play-off system merged with the league shield format.

From this season, the top two clubs after the regular season automatically progress to the ISL semi-finals, whereas the third-through-sixth ranked teams play a single-elimination match as the two play-off winners join the first and second-ranked teams in two-legged semifinals.

Due to the continuous inclusion of new teams in the ISL and the revamped structure, teams are entitled to play more matches than the earlier four or five seasons. This factor is the most important one for the high-goalscoring seasons. 

.@chetrisunil11 believes the league has shown an increased competitiveness over the years 💯

Watch the #ISL 2023-24, starting from September 21, LIVE only on @JioCinema and @Sports18 📺#ISL10 #LetsFootball #ISLonJioCinema #ISLonSports18 #BengaluruFC #SunilChhetri pic.twitter.com/zztt9UbavW

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) September 14, 2023

Team dynamics

Players such as Ferran Corominas played for only one ISL team but did not fail to deliver across the three seasons he played in India. Coro played mostly under Sergio Lobera in FC Goa but prevailed to prove himself as one of the most influential strikers to ever play in ISL.

During his time in Goa, Lobera mostly followed the positional play for his offensive tactics, continually shifting between a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-4-1-1 to manipulate the spaces and thrive in pressure.

The attacking-midfield duo Edu Bedia and Hugo Boumous also helped Coro in front, who was the pinnacle of attacking plans by Lobera.

This is how Lobera's attacking free-flow and quality teammates benefitted Coro as he remains one of the most iconic figures in ISL history.

On the contrary, another ISL stalwart Bartholomew Ogbeche played for four ISL sides; NorthEast, Kerala, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. Ogbeche played under three coaches in the ISL; Manolo Marquez, Sergio Lobera, and Eelco Shattorie. 

However, the Nigerian dominated everywhere he played in. Factors such as shifting between different tactical executions, different set-ups, and styles of play did not affect his goalscoring spree, as he is the second-highest leading goalscorer in the ISL with 63 goals to his name.

3⃣ Seasons
3⃣ Clubs
3⃣rd highest scorer of all time in the #HeroISL

Bartholomew Ogbeche = Goals, guaranteed ⚽🔥 pic.twitter.com/TU8wiidz00

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) July 8, 2021

A few other Records and Milestones in ISL Stats

1. Most hat-tricks in a season

The 2015 edition of the Indian Super League saw a staggering eight hat-tricks across the season, a mark which is yet to be touched or broken. 

Stiven Mendoza, Sunil Chhetri, Ferran Corominas, and Mudou Sougou shared the record for most hat-tricks in a single season, as they all scored two hat-tricks in a season.

Here are the number of hat-tricks in every edition of the Indian Super League.

Read Also | ISL Stats: Players with most ISL Hat-tricks

2. Longest Goalscoring streaks

• Kalu Uche (Delhi Dynamos FC) - 8 games

In the 2017-18 season, Kalu Uche showcased remarkable performance by scoring 13 goals and providing two assists in 15 appearances, making him the top scorer for Delhi Dynamos that season.

Between January and March 2018, the Nigerian scored in eight consecutive games, securing the longest goalscoring streak in ISL history.

• Alaaeddine Ajaraie (NorthEast United FC) - 8 games

In the ongoing 2024-25 ISL season, Alaaeddine Ajaraie scored in his first 8 consecutive games, with a compelling total of 11 goals on the way.

The Moroccan has also become the first-ever player to score in his first eight matches in the league's history. Also, his brace against Bengaluru FC on November 8th, 2024, marked him as the first player to score braces in three consecutive games in the ISL.

• Roy Krishna (Mohun Bagan Super Giant) - 6 games

Roy Krishna had an incredible season with his former club Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the 2020-21 season, scoring 14 goals in total.

However, the current Odisha FC striker scored eight goals in six matches from January to February 2021, marking the second-longest scoring spree by any player in ISL history.

• Elano (Chennaiyin FC) - 6 games

Elano Blumer is one of the greatest footballers to play in the ISL till date, marking the inaugural ISL season with his remarkable performances.

The Brazilian scored eight goals in his first six games of the season and scored 9 goals in total to help Chennaiyin FC finish atop the league table and reach the semi-finals.

• Iain Hume (ATK FC) - 5 games

Iain Hume remains one of the most loved fan-favourite footballers ever to play in the Indian Super League. The Canadian scored five goals in five straight games for ATK FC in the ISL 2015 season.

Although ATK was eliminated from the semis owing to a defeat against Chenniyin, Hume scored 11 goals across the season to help the Kolkata side on their journey to the semis.

What Does the Future Hold?

The ISL has gifted many young footballers to light up Indian football over the years. These players have the utmost capabilities to book their place in the record books. With many objectives to chase, the youngsters also may experience the motivation to rack up goals in ISL in the upcoming years.

Although the Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri has the most goals in the Indian Super League history, he never won the ISL Golden Boot in his career. Only time can tell If any promising young talent can fulfil this dream of the Indian football fans.

However, here are the Indian footballers who can achieve great success in the future and produce an immense number of goals for their respective ISL sides.

Lallianzuala Chhangte (27 years old) - Mumbai City FC

Lallianzuala Chhangte has elevated his game to become one of the ISL's most impactful and clutch players. In the marvelous league double season for Mumbai City FC in 2022-23, Chhangte became the leading scorer of the team, earning the Golden Ball as well.

Chhangte is surely suffering a rough patch under Kratky in Mumbai in this ongoing season, but with his impeccable potential, he is destined to come back at his best in the upcoming months.

Vikram Partap Singh (23 years old) - Mumbai City FC

Under the guidance of new Mumbai City coach Petr Kratky, Vikram has excelled by scoring eight goals while primarily playing as a left winger. His relentless running significantly enhances Mumbai's attacking play, and he continues to improve his decision-making in the final third of the field.

Sivasakthi Narayanan (24 years old) - Bengaluru FC

Arguably the most natural goalscorer on this list, Sivasakthi has a natural positioning sense of being present in the right place at the right time; as he showed in the 22/23 season, where he played up top alongside Roy Krishna. 

Parthib Gogoi (21 years old) - NorthEast United FC

Played primarily as a winger by his club, Parthib has injected hope among Indian football fans to find a potential forward with both playmaking and goalscoring abilities that he delivers so well. His ability to convert powerful long-ranger strikes also makes him one out of the box.

Although he has not got many starts this season so far, he may prove to be one of the most essential assets for the club, and the national team as well.

Conclusion

The ever-increasing goalscoring opportunities indicate the league's attacking style of football display that has been gradually adopted by most of the teams. The competitiveness in the league may not only be defined by the goalscoring tally, but it is one of the most pivotal aspects.

The records show the illustrious history of the Indian Super League, studded with noteworthy milestones for the future to chase. It is naturally expected that the future stars of Indian football will surely strive to achieve these feats, but they must go beyond the records.

National Football team coach Manolo Marquez has decided to resign after team's poor performance against Hong Kong in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers.

Manolo Marquez, who could not even beat a weak team like Hong Kong, which is 26th behind the Indian team in the FIFA rankings, mailed his resignation to the federation the night after the match. The federation has decided to officially announce the resignation of the national coach around Wednesday afternoon.

Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026: Teams qualified so far

India’s hopes of qualifying are now precarious

Indian men’s football has endured a challenging 18 months, marked by a single victory in 16 matches since the start of 2024. A 1-0 defeat to Hong Kong in the AFC Asian Cup qualifier on Tuesday exacerbated the situation, bringing the team’s struggles into sharp focus.

Fan discontent with head coach Igor Stimac’s successor, Manolo Marquez, have intensified after a string of demoralising losses, including three consecutive goalless games against Bangladesh, Thailand, and Hong Kong, leaving fans questioning the team’s ability. India’s hopes of qualifying for the 2027 Asia Cup are now precarious, and speculation surrounds Marquez’s future.

Marquez has not formally tendered his resignation

Rumours of Marquez’s potential resignation had already started doing the rounds as sources suggest that the Spaniard, who replaced Stimac in July 2024, is contemplating stepping down within a year of his appointment.

However, an All India Football Federation (AIFF) source confirmed Marquez has not formally tendered his resignation. The federation awaits official communication from him regarding his intentions but that too many not be simple.

“He can do so only after mutual agreement, that the AIFF gives him permission to part ways," an AIFF source said.

“We have not got any request in writing from Manolo that he wants to leave from the job. We can apply our mind only after he informs us what he wants," the source added.

India must win their remaining four matches

India must win their remaining four matches to maintain any hope of qualification, currently languishing at the bottom of their group. While home and away fixtures against Singapore are scheduled for the October international break, Marquez’s presence for those games remains uncertain.

Head coach Manolo Márquez announces 28-member Blue Tigers travelling squad for Thailand friendly on May 28, 2025. All the 28 players, who are currently a part of the ongoing camp in Kolkata, will travel to Thailand for the FIFA friendly for the June 4 fixture.

With a crucial AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round on the horizon, the Indian Men's National Football Team is gearing up for a significant test. The squad will leave for Thailand on Wednesday evening for their friendly on June 4, at the Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani at 18:00 IST.

Subsequently, the team will depart for Hong Kong on the next day (June 5) for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round fixture.

Kolkata: The Blue Tigers' pre-Thailand training hub

The Blue Tigers' intensive training camp kicked off in Kolkata on May 19. The men in Blue underwent six full days of structured training and gym sessions. These were focused on refining patterns, defensive organisation, attacking transitions, and all other crucial elements for the gameplay.

A highlight of the camp was the inclusion of two practice matches:

• On May 26, the Blue Tigers faced Santosh Trophy Champions Bengal, securing a 2-1 victory. (goal scorers: Brandon Fernandes and Ashique Kuruniyan)
• On May 27, they faced North 24 Parganas, securing a 3-0 victory. (goal scorers: Sunil Chhetri, Chinglensana Singh Konsham and Udanta Singh Kumam)

Blue Tigers’ 28-member squad for the FIFA Friendly against Thailand

Goalkeepers: Hrithik Tiwari, Vishal Kaith, Gurmeet Singh, Amrinder Singh.

Defenders: Naorem Roshan Singh, Rahul Bheke, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Anwar Ali, Boris Singh Thangjam, Sandesh Jhingan, Asish Rai, Subhasish Bose, Mehtab Singh, Abhishek Singh Tekcham.

Midfielders: Suresh Singh Wangjam, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Ayush Dev Chhetri, Udanta Singh Kumam, Lalengmawia Ralte, Liston Colaco, Ashique Kuruniyan, Brandon Fernandes, Nikhil Prabhu.

Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Edmund Lalrindika, Manvir Singh, Suhail Ahmad Bhat, Lallianzuala Chhangte.

Head Coach: Manolo Márquez

Assistant Coach: Mahesh Gawali

Assistant Coach: Benito Montalvo

Goalkeeper Coach: Marc Gamon

Strength and Conditioning Coach: José Carlos Barroso

In a groundbreaking moment for Indian football, Rahul KP, the dynamic winger of Odisha FC, has been extended a prestigious invitation to represent English Premier League powerhouse West Ham United in the highly anticipated summer edition of The Soccer Tournament (TST), an elite 7 v 7 football competition featuring 48 teams from across the globe.

This is the first time in Indian football history that an Indian player will represent a top-division English Premier League club men’s team. This is a monumental achievement not only for Rahul's burgeoning career and Odisha FC but also for the continued growth and recognition of the state of Odisha and Indian football on the international stage.

The tournament is scheduled to take place from June 4 to June 9, 2025, in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. The tournament boasts a diverse international roster, with participating teams and players hailing from countries including the United Kingdom, Spain, Switzerland, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, and India. The star-studded event will notably feature teams led by legendary footballers such as Luis Nani, Sergio Agüero, and Hope Solo.

Rahul KP will join a distinguished West Ham United squad that includes notable personalities like actor Hero Fiennes Tiffin, former Argentina international Mauro Zárate, and several professional athletes who have represented the United States in the World Indoor Football Cup.

The three group stage games featuring West Ham United will be broadcast live on YouTube channels. Additionally, these matches will be televised live on ESPN.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) celebrated the best of Indian football at the AIFF Awards 2025, held today in Bhubaneswar, honouring outstanding players, coaches, referees, and member associations for their contributions during the 2024-25 season.

The ceremony highlighted the growing competitiveness of Indian football, with Mohun Bagan SG’s Subhasish Bose and East Bengal FC’s Soumya Guguloth crowned Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year, respectively. 

AIFF Awards 2025 Winners

Individual Awards

• Men's Player of the Year: Subhasish Bose (Mohun Bagan SG, Defender)
  • Recognised for his leadership as captain and stellar performances for Mohun Bagan SG as the mariners became the first team to defend the ISL Shield, along with reclaiming the ISL Cup. Bose kept 13 clean sheets as a defender and scored 6 goals as well. 
• Women's Player of the Year: Soumya Guguloth (East Bengal FC, Forward)
  • Honoured as the top Indian scorer in the Indian Women’s League (IWL) and a key player for the Blue Tigresses. She helped East Bengal FC win the IWL 2024-25 title.
• Men's Goalkeeper of the Year: Vishal Kaith (Mohun Bagan SG)
  • Awarded for holding the record for the most clean sheets in Indian Super League (ISL) history. Kaith had a record 15 clean sheets in ISL 2024-25 and conceded only 19 goals across 26 appearances
• Most Promising Men's Player of the Year: Brison Fernandes (Midfielder)
  • Noted for his midfield mastery and potential as a rising star.
• Most Promising Women's Player of the Year: Neha (Haryana, Winger)
  • Recognised for her performances, including 2 goals in the SAFF U19 Women’s Championship and 3 goals in the Senior Women’s National Championship.
• Men's Coach of the Year: Khalid Jamil (Jamshedpur FC)
  • Won for the second consecutive year for leading Jamshedpur FC to the Kalinga Super Cup semifinals.
• Women's Coach of the Year: Sujata Kar (Sreebhumi FC)
  • Awarded for guiding newly-promoted Sreebhumi FC to a third-place finish in the IWL.
• Male Referee of the Year: Venkatesh R
  • Acknowledged for consistent officiating on the pitch.
• Female Referee of the Year: Tekcham Ranjita Devi
  • Recognised for her officiating excellence.
• Male Referee of the Year: Venkatesh R
• Male Assistant Referee of the Year: Vairamuthu P

Member Association (MA) Awards

• Most Successful MA (Club Competitions): Indian Football Association (West Bengal)
  • For dominance in men’s competitions, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal winning major titles.
• Most Successful MA (NFC Competitions): All Manipur Football Association
  • Recognised for success in the National Football Championships.
• Best MA for Supporting Women’s Football: Punjab Football Association
  • Honoured for contributions to women’s football development.
• Best MA for Hosting Most AIFF Competitions: Football Association of Odisha and Goa Football Association
  • For hosting numerous AIFF events.
• MA with Most Player Registrations (Men’s): Kerala Football Association
  • For the highest number of male player registrations.
• MA with Most Player Registrations (Women’s): Western India Football Association (Maharashtra)
  • For leading in female player registrations.
• Special Award for MA Launching New Projects: Gujarat State Football Association
  • For innovative football initiatives.
• MA with Most Grassroots Activities: Gujarat State Football Association
  • For extensive grassroots programs.
• MA with Most Youth Tournaments Conducted: Karnataka State Football Association
  • For organising numerous youth tournaments.
• MA with Most Coaching Courses: Punjab Football Association
  • For conducting the most coaching courses.
• MA with Most Refereeing Courses: Gujarat State Football Association
  • For leading in referee training programs.

On a vibrant Saturday evening, April 26, 2025, Mohun Bagan SG’s youthful squad clinched a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Kerala Blasters FC in the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 quarter-finals, securing their spot in the semi-finals.

The Mariners, boasting an all-Indian lineup save for Portuguese defender Nuno Reis, showcased their attacking flair with goals from Sahal Abdul Samad in the 22nd minute and Suhail Ahmad Bhat in the 51st. Despite a late strike from Kerala Blasters’ Sreekuttan MS in the 94th minute, Mohun Bagan SG held firm, thanks to a stellar performance by goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem. Bastab Roy’s team now awaits the winner of the FC Goa vs. Punjab FC clash in the semi-final on April 30.

The match kicked off cautiously, with both sides probing without overcommitting. For the first 20 minutes, neither team managed to create clear chances. Then, Mohun Bagan SG sparked the game to life with a moment of brilliance.

Salahudheen Adnan dazzled down the right, weaving past Naocha Singh before delivering a pinpoint cross into the box. Sahal Abdul Samad, with a deft shoulder drop, shook off Ruivah Hormipam and delicately lifted the ball over goalkeeper Sachin Suresh to break the deadlock.

The goal jolted Kerala Blasters into action, and they pushed hard for an equaliser. Noah Sadaoui, fresh off a spectacular long-range goal against East Bengal, tried his luck from distance but sent the ball straight to Dheeraj Singh.

Read Also | India expresses formal interest to host the AFC Asian Cup 2031

The Blasters grew threatening from set pieces, particularly short corners. In the 30th minute, Sadaoui’s low cross after a quick one-two with Vibin Mohanan was cleared by Dippendu Biswas. Moments later, Hormipam’s looping cross nearly sneaked into the top corner, only for Dheeraj to tip it over.

Just before halftime, Mohammed Aimen cut in from the left and unleashed a curling shot that sailed narrowly over the bar, leaving the Blasters frustrated.

The second half began with Mohun Bagan SG striking early. In the 47th minute, Sachin Suresh pulled off a stunning save to deny Salahudheen in a one-on-one, but the warning went unheeded. Four minutes later, Ashique Kuruniyan tore down the left, breezed past Hormipam, and rolled a precise pass to Suhail Ahmad Bhat, who calmly slotted it home to double the lead.

From there, the game became the Dheeraj Singh show. Kerala Blasters threw everything forward, but the Mohun Bagan goalkeeper stood tall. Jesús Jiménez squandered two golden opportunities, blasting over the bar in the 65th minute and dragging a shot wide two minutes later. In the 70th minute, Dheeraj denied substitute Kwame Peprah’s angled effort, and with five minutes left, Peprah’s low cross found Jiménez, who couldn’t connect cleanly.

Read Also | Will Indian-Origin players ever get to play for India? AIFF keeps showing its aimless approach

Dheeraj’s heroics continued as he thwarted Peprah from point-blank range, with Amandeep clearing Ebindas Y’s follow-up off the line. The Blasters finally broke through in stoppage time when Jiménez set up Sreekuttan, who rifled a shot past Dheeraj. But the goal came too late to spark a comeback.

Salahudheen Adnan earned the Kalinga Player of the Match award for his electrifying performance.