Mohun Bagan SG’s attacking talisman, Greg Stewart, currently back in Scotland for minor treatment, might have felt a pang watching his team take on Odisha FC from afar. In his absence, Bagan’s attack, though superior than their opponents, lacked its usual sharpness, falling short in the final-third without that lethal finishing touch.
So far, Bagan have secured just one win against a top-ranked team, defeating North East United in a narrow victory. However, in a clash against table-toppers Bengaluru FC, the Mariners suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat. They have claimed convincing victories over the lower-ranked East Bengal FC, Mohammedan SC and Hyderabad FC. Yet, in all three matches, it was Stewart who played a pivotal role in the critical area just outside the opponent’s penalty box. Against Mohammedan Sporting and East Bengal, Stewart’s presence was evident as he tore through defences, but against Odisha FC, despite Dimi Petratos’ heavy workload across the pitch, that decisive edge in the final-third was missing.
Without Stewart, even Jamie Maclaren struggled against Odisha. The Australian striker, who has netted two goals in five appearances so far, found limited delivery from the flanks or central areas. Petratos, Bagan’s standout performer over the past two seasons with 22 goals and 14 assists, has managed just one goal and two assists this term. Previously, Petratos was known for his incisive passes and long-range shots from outside the opponent’s penalty box, but this season he has yet to replicate that form. Head coach Jose Molina had discovered a promising combination between Maclaren and Stewart that worked well in the last three games, but with Stewart now nursing a knee injury, it remains uncertain if he will be back for Bagan’s next fixture against Jamshedpur on November 23.
Meanwhile, Manvir Singh salvaged a point for Bagan by heading in a Petratos corner from a tight angle. At the beginning of this season, including the Durand Cup and the first three ISL matches, Bagan’s defence was a major concern. However, that issue has now eased somewhat, as Molina’s team has conceded just one goal in their last four games. Central defenders Alberto Rodriguez and Tom Aldred have been exceptional, thwarting attacks down the middle and proving nearly unbeatable in aerial duels, especially in set-pieces.
Odisha FC’s Roy Krishna posed a challenge with his pace, occasionally slipping past the defence, but goalkeeper Vishal Kaith stood tall with some outstanding saves. The only lapse came from a misjudgement by Ashis Rai, who made a miskick inside the box towards Kaith, who opted to catch rather than clear it. This led to an indirect free kick in the six-yard box, which Hugo Boumous capitalised on from Ahmed Jahouh’s touch to find the back of the net.
Molina made his first substitution in the 57th minute, a forced change due to Anirudh Thapa limping off and being replaced by Deepak Tangri. In the 77th minute, he brought on Sahal Abdul Samad and Jason Cummings for fresh energy, followed by Ashique Kuruniyan in the 88th minute. However, these changes came somewhat late and might have had more impact if introduced earlier.
As Bagan prepare for their matches against Jamshedpur FC and Chennaiyin FC in the coming weeks, they face tricky challenges. Whether Stewart returns for the next game is uncertain, but in his absence, the Mariners will need to demonstrate the depth of a champion team, the one capable of thriving without being dependent on any single player.
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