Mohun Bagan stand Tall in the Eye of the Storm against NEUFC | ISL 2025/26 Match Review

byTeam MBFT -

Amid thunder, waterlogged turf and relentless pressure, Mohun Bagan found a way to endure, defend, and rise to the summit.



Guwahati had been battered by relentless torrential rain and thunderstorms over the previous two days, and the match day was no exception. The IMD Guwahati had already issued warnings of severe thunderstorms with lightning, and just 30 minutes into the game, nature began to remind everyone why North-East India houses some of the wettest places in the country.

Mohun Bagan were up against North East United FC in a fixture where victory would take them to the top of the table, opening a two-point gap over current leaders Mumbai City FC. With just five matches remaining, the urgency was unmistakable.

The away stand was packed with travelling supporters. In a heart-warming gesture, Mariners Arena unveiled a tifo, paying tribute to the late Zubeen Garg. This was not an isolated act. Time and again, Mohun Bagan supporters have honoured deserving individuals from opposition teams. Whether it was the late Ratan Tata during their away venture at Jamshedpur or Shankar Pillai (widely known as Shankar Mali) of Emami East Bengal Foundation, Bagan have consistently upheld this tradition of extending respect beyond their own colours.



Coach Sergio Lobera fielded a distinct attacking lineup. With Apuia and Alberto still sidelined due to injury, Tom Aldred partnered with Mehtab Singh at the heart of defence, with captain Bose and Abhishek Tekcham Singh operating as full-backs. Sahal Abdul Samad paired with Anirudh Thapa in midfield, while Robson and Liston were tasked with stretching the flanks to supply Cummings and Maclaren upfront. The intent was clear; Lobera wanted to strike North-East United FC with full force!



The chants had barely settled when Mohun Bagan signalled their intent. Jamie Maclaren burst past his marker, latching onto a precise throw-in from Abhi Meitei, and drove into the box. It was from a similar angle that he had scored in this very stadium during the return leg of last ISL season’s Kolkata Derby. But this time, Maclaren chose the unselfish route, squaring the ball for Robson Robinho. The pass was cut out before it could reach him. It was a opportunity that a striker of Maclaren’s calibre, is expected to finish himself.

The wait for celebration however did not take long. Bagan’s pressing was relentless, suffocating the NEUFC defence into mistakes. Cummings, Sahal, Maclaren, Liston, and Robson moved as one; closing down space, forcing errors, and building the pressure.

And then, in an instant, it opened up.

Just five minutes into the game, Liston spotted Sahal’s run and threaded a perfectly weighted pass into the box. Sahal met it with a single, exquisite touch, not to control but to release, guiding it perfectly into the path of an onrushing Robson behind Maclaren who took on two defenders.

The rest was inevitable. A thunderous strike from Robson that flashed past the keeper into the net, leaving the defence standing frozen as the stands erupted.



At that moment, it was hard to tell who the home side was. Chants echoed through every nook and corner of the stadium as Green-and-Maroon flags waved through the air indicating their dominance. It was Brazilian flair blended with Sahal’s finesse, a team goal of the highest quality.

For much of the first half, it was all Mohun Bagan. Abhi Meitei’s overlapping runs dismantled the NEUFC defence down the right flank, while Cummings’ movement constantly troubled the opposition. The fans could only count the chances that went begging.

The only moment of concern came in the 24th minute. A misjudged back pass from Abhishek Tekcham Singh left Kaith under pressure from Lalrinzuala Lalbiaknia, with Jairo Samperio closing in. Forced out of his area, Kaith cleared the ball for a throw-in but deliberately delayed play to regain his position, earning a yellow card in the process. It was a calculated risk and one that prevented a potentially dangerous situation.

Apart from that, Bagan dominated proceedings, earning nine corners in just 25 minutes while giving away only one, a clear indication of their control over the game. Coach Lobera had clearly instilled an ultra-attacking mentality, but without clinical finishing, even the best tactical setups lose their impact.

Soon after, the drizzle started. By the time the drinks break arrived, the rain intensified into a torrential downpour mirroring the relentless attacks of Mohun Bagan. As the 40-minute mark approached, puddles began forming across the pitch, particularly near the corners. Players soon started slipping, often losing their footing, and struggling to control the ball.

Just before Half Time, another chance emerged. A misplaced pass from Parthib Gogoi allowed Maclaren, Cummings, and Liston to combine brilliantly. Maclaren set it up perfectly for Cummings, but the final touch was not it.

And then came the storm!

What began as rain escalated into a full-blown thunderstorm. Yet the green-and-maroon faithful did not stop. Their chants rose above the thunder, filling every corner of the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium. As the rain grew heavier, waterlogging worsened, especially near the corner flags.

According to ISL Rules and Regulations, if the Match resumed from this instant, it would be continued from right from Half-Time with same conditions (Yellow Cards, Substitutions and Goals). As the game was under 60 minutes played, with 1-0 goal margin for Mohun Bagan, scores will be considered level if match is abandoned. So, if abandoned and it cannot be rescheduled, points would be shared with 0-0 scoreline. Only a 2-0 goal margin or higher for a winning team in a game that has run more than 60 minutes can be declared a winner.

The players returned for the second half, but lightning and water logging soon forced referee Crystal John to halt proceedings. The match was initially suspended for 30 minutes as players retreated to the dressing rooms.

Was it just the rain? Or was it the rain, mixed with the tears of our noisy neighbours who were watching us climb to the top of the table once again if the score line held? That, we may never know.

Whatever the reason, the supporters stood firm. Soaked by rain and battered by wind, they continued to sing. Because when Mohun Bagan play, it is not just the players who give everything. The supporters do too.

After the break, the rain eased slightly, but the pitch remained waterlogged. It was when ground staffs rushed in with buckets, wipers, and sheer determination, battling the rain as fiercely as the players battled on the pitch. They worked relentlessly, refusing to let the game slip away. For the travelling fans who had journeyed miles, an abandonned match would have been heartbreaking. What followed was nothing short of remarkable. The ground staff did not just prepare the pitch, they fought for the game.

The ball test that is conducted all over the pitch is where the ball is dropped by hand and it needs to bounce properly off the ground. The ball should also rotate 360 degrees in the movement (roll) when kicked across the ground. This test is done to see if the playing requirements are met in adverse weather and field conditions.

Following another inspection by the match officials and a fresh warm-up, play resumed after an hour, but only for the rain to return. Both Robson and Cummings were replaced at Half Time to bring on Manvir Singh and Deepak Tangri. Coach Lobera understood that the Indian players would be more capable of playing in such adverse weather conditions.



The second half slowly descended into total chaos.

The ball struggled to roll, splashing water with every touch. NEUFC launched a few early attacks, but Bagan’s defence held firm despite the conditions. Sahal missed a golden opportunity around the hour mark from a brilliant Manvir Singh pass to extend the lead.

Time and again, the accumulated water rose against the players, turning the pitch into an obstacle with every step. Soon after, play was halted again as the ball refused to move across the soaked surface. It no longer felt like an ISL fixture, it resembled a gritty monsoon encounter straight out of the Calcutta Football League. The players started lifting the ball in the air to get it further without any resistance.

In the latter half, Lobera withdrew all foreign players except Tom Aldred. In the final quarter, NEUFC dominated possession, and Aldred stood like a wall, reading the game, intercepting, tackling, and holding the line with authority.

Then came the defining moment. At the start of seven minutes of added time, NEUFC carved out their best chance of the night. But Mehtab Singh, rose to the occasion and produced a heroic goal-line clearance, a moment that preserved the lead and, ultimately, sealed the match.



As the final whistle echoed through a rain-soaked stadium, the scoreboard told only part of the story. This was not just a victory and three points. It was endurance. It was control in chaos. It was belief, from the pitch to the stands. It was three points rightfully earned to rise to the top of the table. This is what Champions are made of!



Through thunder, through waterlogged turf, through moments that could have slipped away, Mohun Bagan held firm. Because some nights are not about how beautifully you play. They are about how strongly you persevere. On a night where nature itself tried to intervene, the Mariners did not just play football, they conquered everything that stood in front of them!

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