ATK Mohun Bagan books the spot in the semifinals yet again for the second consecutive time in ISL 2022. Their 1-0 win against the Chennaiyin FC on Thursday led them to reach the semis and the team is looking forward to extending their winning run.

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Roy Krishna, the star of the night, netted the goal in the 45th minute. This was Krishna's fifth goal of the season and also his first of the year. That single goal by the ATKMB's talisman Roy Krishna impacted the most and took the Green and Maroon side to the second spot in the table with 37 points in 19 matches.

The team was dominating Chennaiyin FC from the very first moment. From breaking the opponent's defense with continuous attacks to leaving no stones unturned, the team was ahead on the front foot.

Read also: ISL 2022: Hyderabad qualifies for semi-finals after a hard-fought battle against Kerala Blasters

7 March will witness a mega clash where ATK Mohun Bagan will face-off Jamshedpur FC. The night is the decider of the top team at the table. Jamshedpur FC is leading the ISL 2022 table at the moment with 37 points. They have 2 more matches in hand presently. Lastly, Jamshedpur will play against Odisha FC on Friday before they take on ATK Mohun Bagan.

In a team where there is a World Cupper, a player who played in Euros, 7-8 Indian Football team stars and what not; Dimitri Petratos was not under the spotlight when Mohun Bagan Super Giant started defending the ISL title this season. But, with his presence, remarkable fighting spirit and consistent performances, Dimitri Petratos is now the saviour for the millions of Mohun Bagan fans in India.

With 16 contributions already in 24 games this season, Dimitri Petratos is the man for the tough times for one of the most high-profile teams of Indian Football.

Also Read: East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan: Head to Head Stats

Dimi and big games | A match made for Mohun Bagan

Since joining the Kolkata Giants back in the 2022-23 season, Dimitri till now has played 50 games for Mohun Bagan Super Giant and scored 23 goals for them along with assisting 12 times. But, his significance in the team does not lie in his stats. In fact, his significance lies in the moments he has created chances for Mohun Bagan or contributed for them in demanding times.

Take an example of the Durand Cup Final against East Bengal this season. Mohun Bagan after losing the first Kolkata Derby in the same tournament, fans were demanding revenge, on the same turf they had suffered the defeat. Dimitri had not scored a goal till then in the tournament. But, Dimitri stepped up when his team needed him the most. A goal in the 71st minute and Mohun Bagan had their first trophy of the season.

Dimitri's habit of scoring in big games came to the rescue for Mohun Bagan when he saved the Mariners from their second Kolkata derby defeat of the season in Kolkata. In front of nearly 60000 fans in Kolkata, Dimitri provided joy for the fans scoring in the 87th minute of the match to make it 2-2 at Salt Lake Stadium.

Also Read: East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan: 7 Top Coaches To Coach Both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan successfully

After drawing against East Bengal and winning against Hyderabad FC, Habas' men had to prove their metal against one of the strongest teams in FC Goa. Petratos again stepped up with a 74th-minute strike to hand the Mariners an important win in the Indian Super League 2023-24 season.

Not to forget, Dimitri scored three goals in three games in AFC Cup this season and it was his absence that made them suffer in the later part of the group stage.

Dimitri Petratos Stats in important games for Mohun Bagan Super Giant

ISL 2023-23 Home Game vs FC Goa | 1 Goal and 1 Assist to help Mohun Bagan win by 2-1

ISL 2023-23 QFs vs Odisha FC | 58th goal to increase the lead to 2-0

ISL 2022-23 Final vs Bengaluru FC | Two goals for Mohun Bagan from Penlaty to take the game to shootouts

Durand Cup 2023 Final | Goal in 71st minute to help Mohun Bagan win by 1-0

AFC Cup 2023-24 Group Stage | 29th-minute goal to give Mohun Bagan the early lead in a game that ended in a 2-2 draw

ISL 2023-24 vs East Bengal | 87th-minute goal to help Mohun Bagan draw the game 2-2

ISL 2023-24 vs FC Goa | 74th-minute goal to help Mohun Bagan win the game by 1-0

Including these games, Dimitri Petratos so far has scored 8 match-winning goals for Mohun Bagan when the team was losing the game.

Dimitri Petratos stats by season

2022-23 | 26 Games, 12 Goals, 7 Assists

2023-24 so far | 24 Games, 11 Goals, 5 Assists

Dimitri Petratos Stats by Competitions

Indian Super League | 31 Games, 15 Goals, 8 Assists

ISL Play-Offs | 4 Games, 3 Goals, 0 Assists

Super Cup | 6 Games, 1 Goal, 1 Assist

Durand Cup | 5 Games, 1 Goal, 0 Assists

AFC Cup Qualifiers | 1 Game, 0 goals, 2 Assists

AFC Cup | 3 Games, 3 Goals, 1 Assists

Dimitri Petratos Overall Stats for Mohun Bagan | 50 Games, 23 Goals, 12 Assists

Nandhakumar Sekar produced a spectacular finish to help Emami East Bengal end its losing streak against its arch-rival Mohun Bagan SG, at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday.

The Chennai-born winger's contribution saw East Bengal down the Indian Super League (ISL) champion MBSG by a solitary goal in the group-A match of the Durand Cup, keeping its chances alive to qualify for the quarterfinals of the tournament.

The 60th minute goal also put Mohun Bagan SG smooth entry into the quarter-finals on hold as East Bengal can pip them to a last eight spot if they happen to win against Punjab FC in their last group league encounter on Wednesday.

Mohun Bagan, who completed their group A outings with six points from three matches while East Bengal have four points from two games.

Six group toppers and two best runners-up make up the last-eight.

MBSG coach, Juan Ferrando said "Our main target is still winning the Calcutta League and reaching the quarter finals of the Durand Cup".

Under Bengaluru FC's Indian Super League winning coach Carles Cuadrat, East Bengal looked much more compact and the forward lineup got back their usual flair with Nandhakumar's international class strike. The former Odisha FC midfielder capitalised on an assist from Saul Crespo from the right flank as he smartly outfoxed Mohun Bagan's India international Aniruddh Thapa with an outside dodge.

Showing perfect composure, the 27-year-old then used his instep to curl one past outstretched hands of Mohun Bagan SG goalie Vishal Kaith into the far corner of the net.

The win for East Bengal ended defending ISL champions Mohun Bagan's dominance that stretched for more than four years and six months.

Punjab FC, the reigning champions of the 2022-23 I-League, is proud to announce its inclusion in the Indian Super League (ISL) for the upcoming 2023-24 season. The Club's remarkable victory in the I-League, along with successfully clearing the ICLS Premier 1 Licensing, has earned them a well-deserved spot in the top-tier league of Indian football. With this, the Club became the first ever club in India to gain promotion to the Indian Super League from I-League.

Punjab FC showcased extraordinary performance throughout the I-League 2022-23 season, dominating the competition and securing the top position on the points table. The team displayed exceptional skills and dedication, winning 16, drawing four and suffering only two losses. The team also scored a total of 45 goals, highlighting their prowess on the field.

Read Also: Sony Sports India acquires the exclusive media rights to broadcast the Durand Cup 2023 in India

Speaking on this momentous occasion, Sunny Singh, Founder of RoundGlass and the driving force behind Punjab FC's meteoric rise said, "Punjab FC's inclusion in the ISL is a recognition of the hard work and perseverance of our players and staff. The team's swift progression from the I-League to the ISL is extraordinary, and we're thrilled to embrace the challenge of competing at the highest level of Indian football. We aim to make a lasting mark in the ISL and serve as an inspiration to young talent across India."

Nikolaos Topoliatis, Technical Director of Punjab FC, also shared his enthusiasm for the Club's new chapter and said, "Being a part of the Indian Super League is a significant milestone in Punjab FC's history. We have followed our ideology of playing a brand of football that inspires young kids across the country to take up the sport and have built upon it. We have assembled a group of emerging talents for our season ahead. Our focus remains on promoting this exciting brand of football and we look forward to competing against the best teams in the country."

As the newest entrants of the ISL, Punjab FC aims to build on its legacy and make its presence felt among the seasoned contenders and is geared up to make a lasting impression on the Indian football landscape.

AIFF rejected Kerala Blasters' appeal against the ₹4 crore fine imposed on them for misconduct and abandonment of their ISL playoff match against Bengaluru FC. The committee also rejected KBFC's head coach Ivan Vukumanović's appeal against the fine of ₹5 lakhs and a 10-game ban imposed on him. In both cases, the AIFF Disciplinary and Appeal Committee upheld the earlier decisions of the Disciplinary Committee. They were asked to pay the respective fines within two weeks. Their ISL playoff match was controversial as Kerala Blasters walked off the field claiming that Sunil Chhetri's winning strike from an extra-time freekick was not legitimate.

Read Also: Roma Fans Attacked English Referee And His Family after their defeat in the Europa League Final

Kerala claimed that referee Crystal John did not blow the whistle before Chhetri took the kick and the players were not ready. By virtue of their extra-time lead, Bengaluru FC were declared 1-0 winners and advanced into the ISL semifinals.

AIFF Disciplinary and Appeal Committee's statement

"The appeal of the appellant team is denied and Kerala Blasters FC is instructed to pay the fine of ₹4 crores imposed by the Disciplinary Committee," the Appeal Committee stated in its decision.

On the appeal made by Ivan Vukumanović, the Appeal Committee said, "This Committee holds that the appeal of the Appellant Coach is denied and that Ivan Vukumanović is instructed to pay the fine of ₹5 lakhs and serve the suspension for 10 matches and the ban from being a part of the team dressing room and team bench, irrespective of the team he is contracted with.

"Any match for which such suspension and ban have already been served shall count towards compliance with this decision," it added.

In the initial decision on March 31, the Disciplinary Committee also stated that the club and the coach needed to make public apologies. Otherwise, the fines would be increased to ₹6 crore and ₹10 lakh, respectively. In its appeal, the club had argued for levity with regard to the fine and asked that it be reduced to the minimum amount for abandoning the match.

AIFF rejected Kerala Blasters' appeal against the ₹4 crore fine imposed on them for misconduct and abandonment of their ISL playoff match against Bengaluru FC. The committee also rejected KBFC's head coach Ivan Vukumanović's appeal against the fine of ₹5 lakhs and a 10-game ban imposed on him. In both cases, the AIFF Disciplinary and Appeal Committee upheld the earlier decisions of the Disciplinary Committee. They were asked to pay the respective fines within two weeks. Their ISL playoff match was controversial as Kerala Blasters walked off the field claiming that Sunil Chhetri's winning strike from an extra-time freekick was not legitimate.

Read Also: Roma Fans Attacked English Referee And His Family after their defeat in the Europa League Final

Kerala claimed that referee Crystal John did not blow the whistle before Chhetri took the kick and the players were not ready. By virtue of their extra-time lead, Bengaluru FC were declared 1-0 winners and advanced into the ISL semifinals.

AIFF Disciplinary and Appeal Committee's statement

"The appeal of the appellant team is denied and Kerala Blasters FC is instructed to pay the fine of ₹4 crores imposed by the Disciplinary Committee," the Appeal Committee stated in its decision.

On the appeal made by Ivan Vukumanović, the Appeal Committee said, "This Committee holds that the appeal of the Appellant Coach is denied and that Ivan Vukumanović is instructed to pay the fine of ₹5 lakhs and serve the suspension for 10 matches and the ban from being a part of the team dressing room and team bench, irrespective of the team he is contracted with.

"Any match for which such suspension and ban have already been served shall count towards compliance with this decision," it added.

In the initial decision on March 31, the Disciplinary Committee also stated that the club and the coach needed to make public apologies. Otherwise, the fines would be increased to ₹6 crore and ₹10 lakh, respectively. In its appeal, the club had argued for levity with regard to the fine and asked that it be reduced to the minimum amount for abandoning the match.