The Indian Super League (ISL) has seen many great teams over the years, with attacking skills and goal-scoring talents in the spotlight. However, a strong defense is just as important as scoring goals. Some teams have stood apart for their exceptional defensive records, conceding very few goals throughout an entire season.
In this article, we will look at the Indian Super League stats of teams that have conceded the least goals in a single Indian Super League season and how they achieved this achievement.
Least Goals conceded by a team in a season:
LEAGUE | SEASON | TEAMS | GOALS CONCEDED |
Indian Super League | 2024-2025 | Mohun Bagan SG | 14 Goals |
Indian Super League | 2022-2023 | Hyderabad FC | 16 Goals |
Indian Super League | 2019-2020 | Bengaluru FC | 16 Goals |
Indian Super League | 2022-2023 | ATK Mohun Bagan | 19 Goals |
Indian Super League | 2020-2021 | ATK Mohun Bagan | 19 Goals |
Indian Super League | 2019-2020 | Atletico de Kolkata | 19 Goals |
Indian Super League | 2020-2021 | Hyderabad FC | 19 Goals |
Mohun Bagan Super Giants | 2024-25 | 14 Goals conceded:
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— Mohun Bagan Super Giant (@mohunbagansg) February 15, 2025
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The record for the least goal conceded in an Indian Super League season is held by Mohun Bagan SG in the 2024-25 season, where they conceded only 14 goals in the league stage. This kind of milestone highlighted their well-organized defense and disciplined tactics.
Key Factors behind Mohun Bagan SG's Defensive Record:
1. Mohun Bagan SG had a solid backline with experienced defenders like Subhasish Bose, Tom Aldred, and Alberto Rodriguez who maintained excellent positioning and awareness.
2. The team's strategy under their coach Jose Molina, focused on compact defending and quick transitions.
3. Vishal Kiath's reliable performance played a crucial role in ensuring the team did not concede unnecessary goals.
4. Defending is not just about defenders, midfielders and attackers also contribute by pressing opponents and blocking passing lanes.
Previous Records in the Indian Super League
Before Mohun Bagan Super Giant's historic defensive record, two other teams held the record for the least goals conceded in an Indian Super League season.
Hyderabad FC | 2022-2023 | 16 Goals Conceded:
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— Hyderabad FC (@HydFCOfficial) March 20, 2022
Narzary's cool penalty gives us our first trophy in our history.
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Hyderabad FC had one of the most balanced teams in the Indian Super League 2022-2023 season, combining attacking flairs with a strong defensive setup. Their defenses, led by experienced players, conceded only 16 goals in the ISL league stage. They reached the Cup semifinals but lost to ATK Mohun Bagan on penalties.
Bengaluru FC | 2019-2020 | 16 Goals Conceded:
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— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) October 10, 2019
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Bengaluru FC, under Carles Cuadrat, was known for their defensive strength. During the 2019-2020 season, Carles Cuadrat's managed side only conceded 16 goals, matching Hyderabad FC's previous record. They played a tight defensive game, focusing on the structure and discipline of their defensive performance.
Other Defensive Performances in Indian Super League History:
Apart from Mohun Bagan SG, Hyderabad FC, and Bengaluru FC, several other teams have shown defensive efficiency over different seasons:
#ISL - All Cup Winners
— Field Vision (@FieldVisionIND) September 17, 2024
2014 - Atletico de Kolkata
2015 - Chennaiyin
2016 - Atletico de Kolkata
2017-18 - Chennaiyin
2018-19 - Bengaluru
2019-20 - ATK
2020-21 - Mumbai City
2021-22 - Hyderabad
2022-23 - ATK Mohun Bagan
2023-24 - Mumbai City
Who next?#IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/ftde70H6Bj
- ATK Mohun Bagan | 2020-2021 & 2022-23: Conceded only 19 goals in the league stage and went on 2022-2023 to win the title in the 2021-2022 season they reached the final but lost in the final 2-1 by Mumbai City FC.
- Atletico De Kolkata | 2019-2020: Had a rock-solid defense during their title-winning campaign against.
- Hyderabad FC | 2020-2021: Showed great defensive discipline, which helped them to conquer their first Indian Super League title.
Mohun Bagan SG's record of only conceding 14 goals in the 2024-25 season is evidence enough that defense is highly regarded in football. Their tally is also better than Hyderabad FC and Bengaluru FC both of whom laid claim to previously unassailable Indian Super League defensive records.
Attacking football is great for fans, but history shows that it’s often a strong defense that takes teams to the title. It will only get better as ISL grows. Mohun Bagan Super Giants now holds the record for best defensive season in Indian Super League history, at least for now.