Semi Final Clash between IFA Shield Group Toppers
It's super Sunday in Kolkata as the two group toppers of the 126th edition IFA Shield, Mohun Bagan and Punjab FC lock horns on 4th of October at the KBK Stadium.
The Shers finished their group on a high after defeating the Durand winners East Bengal 1-0 in their backyard while the defending champions Mohun Bagan finished their group stage with a 1-1 draw against the in-form NorthEast United FC.
Mohun Bagan took the early lead of a stunning strike from Erwin with a backhead assist from Maclaren. However, the Mariners couldn't hold on to their advantage, as Ethyan restored parity for the Highlanders just minutes after Miguel missed from the spot.
Punjab, meanwhile, completely dominated East Bengal from start to finish, creating chance after chance. The eventual 1–0 scoreline hardly tells the full story, with the Shers having enough opportunities to win by a much more convincing margin.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
PFC's Nikhil Pravu will miss out on the fixture due to a red card suspension against EBFC.Mohun Bagan (3-5-2): Vishal(GK) ; Alberto, Bheke, Subhasish(C), Liston ; Abhishek, Samir, Miguel ; Chhangte, Lee, Drazic.
Coach : Panagiotis Dilmperis.
Punjab FC (4-2-4): Arshdeep(GK); Lhungdim(C), Patrick, Suresh Meitei, Md. Uvais; Rishikanta, Bishu; Diego, Messi, Alfred, Kipgen.
Coach : Pavlos Dermitzakis.
TACTICAL ANALYSIS
Mohun Bagan have lost just once to the Shers in their history all the way back in 2018.No time left for Coach Panos to do any experiments. With the current 3-defense formation with Chhangte and Liston as wing backs is the way to go. Instead of playing ultra-defensive with two CDM's, Panos could put an additional man forward, similar to Sacchi's system and play aggressive from the start.
Lee Erwin has scored in both 2 games and is our focal point in attack. Maclaren will be missed due to a groin injury. Timely substitutions must be made to replace tired legs. Bagan's bench provides for that quitely well. Asish Rai could make a start given his performance against NEUFC. Replacing Bose with Saji may be a better alternative as well.
Dilmperis knows the Shers inside out, having coached them last season. PFC have a pretty balanced team with quality in both attack and defence. Their star players like Diego and Alfred seem to be in red hot form. But the absence of their captain Nikhil may prove to be a big blow to them.
🟢⚔ 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐃𝐀𝐘 ⚔🔴
— MBFT (@MBFT89) October 4, 2026
🎯 IFA Shield 2026 • Semi Final
📣 Mohun Bagan SG vs Punjab FC
⏰ 4th October’26; 17:00 IST
🏟 Kishore Bharati Krirangan
📡 Fancode App & Website
{ Joy Mohun Bagan, MBFT } pic.twitter.com/2vSlpe8U2m
PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR
Lallianzuala Chhangte : Known for his agility and exceptional dribbling, the Mizo Flash will be clinical on the sidelines.Lee Erwin : The tall 6'2 Scotsman is eager to keep his scoring streak alive! His physical presence and long-range accurate powerful shots add to the attacking element of Bagan.
Dejan Drazic: The sensational Serb growing to be the heartbeat of Mohun Bagan’s creative play. His passing range catches the backline off-guard.
Raphael Messi Bouli: Sharing his name with the greatest footballer of all time, the Cameroonian has been in redemptive form throughout this tournament. After scoring a hat-trick against Calcutta Customs in his very first appearance, with his physicality and finishing, he could cause plenty of problems for the backline.
WHEN AND WHERE TO WATCH THE MATCH
📅 October 4, 2026 (Sunday), 5:00 PM🏟️ KBK, Kolkata
🏆 IFA Shield Semi Final
📡 Fancode App and Website
🎯 WATCH LIVE MATCH UPDATE ON MBFT.IN
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