Mohun Bagan Super Giant won their first-ever Indian Super League Shield in dramatic fashion, defeating Mumbai City 2-1 in a title decider, as goals from Liston Colaco and Jason Cummings gave them the win, despite a late goal from Lallianzuala Chhangte and a red card for Brendan Hamill causing some consternation.
Bagan, who began the night needing a win, finished the season on a record 48 points, with Mumbai in second on 47 points. The League Shield win also means Mohun Bagan join East Bengal in the AFC Champions League 2 next season.
Antonio Habas named an attacking lineup but Mumbai City held them off in the initial stages. However, Bagan came close to open the scoring in the 20th minute, as Liston Colaco ghosted in at the far post and headed Anirudh Thapa's cross from the right onto the post, with the goal at his mercy. Yet, Liston didn't dwell on it for too long, opening the scoring in the 28th minute with a stunning goal from range, cutting inside from the left wing on the right foot before thundering the ball into the top corner.
1-0 it read in favour of Bagan, and that was enough for them to win the title, with the Salt Lake stadium erupting in response. They were nearly silenced moments before the break, as Lallianzuala Chhangte missed a gilt-edged chance to equalize, scooping the ball wide from a few yards out after sliding in to meet Jorge Pereyra Diaz's cross.
As Mumbai pushed forward in the second half, Bagan's defence kept firm, and it paid off in the 81st minute, as they doubled their lead on the counter. Dimi Petratos produced a superb cross-field pass to find substitute Jason Cummings on the counter, and he ignored the support of Colaco and Anwar Ali to fashion his way into the box and scoring with a low drive to make it 2-0.
Mumbai City weren't out of it though - Lallianzuala Chhangte setting the cat among the pigeons with a sweet left-footed strike that came about after Apuia won a header in the box from a set-piece. Brendan Hamill was sent-off for a second yellow card and Bagan had to see off 8 minutes of injury time.
Antonio Habas' defence held firm, and as the final whistle blew, Bagan and their fans erupted in celebration, the League Shield title theirs, finally.
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